Division    BX7/4S 

Section    •  'v  /C  D   ; 


RK\'.    REUBEN   GAYLORD 
First  Congregational  pastor  in  Nebraska 


Congregational 
Nebraska 


BY  y" 

MOTIER    A.    BULLOCK 

CONGREGATIONAL  MINISTER 


LINCOLN: 
THE  WESTERN  PUBLISHING  AND  ENGRAVING  COMPANY 

1905 


COPYRIGHT,    1905 


THE    WESTERN    PUBLISHING    AND    ENGRAVING    COMPANY 


PRESS   OF 

JACOB    NORTH    &    CO. 

LINCOLN,    NEB. 


DEDICATION 

To  my  beloved  7oi/e,  who,  for  more  than  twenty-five  years,  has 

shared  with  me  the  joys  and  trials  of  a  minister's  life, 

this  book  is  affectionately  inscribed  by  the  author. 


PREFACE 

In  preparing-  this  little  book  to  celebrate  the  jubilee  of 
Nebraska  Congregationalism,  the  work  continued  to  grow 
from  a  brief  sketch  to  the  present  treatise.  The  range  of 
study  was  larger  than  anticipated ;  the  sources  yielded  larger 
results ;  the  plan  of  work  was  radically  changed ;  and  so  a 
jubilee  volume  was  undertaken. 

The  success  of  my  work  I  must  leave  the  indulgent  reader 
to  determine.  No  one  is  more  conscious  of  its  imperfections 
than  am  I,  but  at  the  same  time  I  am  confident  that  there  are 
some  things  in  this  volume  that  will  be  of  interest  to  the 
churches,  for  many  friends  have  kindly  responded  to  the 
appeal  for  information  and  help,  and  what  they  have  written 
has  added  much  to  the  value  of  the  book.  The  interest  they 
have  taken  in  my  effort  and  the  help  they  have  rendered  are 
highlv  appreciated;  and  to  them  individually  due  credit  is 
given  in  connection  with  their  contribution. 

It  has  been  my  aim  not  to  give  a  history  of  individual 
churches,  but  rather  the  historic  development  of  a  great 
denomination :  and  so  I  have  used  the  Alinutes  of  the  Gen- 
eral Association  as  the  basis  of  that  development.  I  have 
received  much  valuable  help  from  Prof.  A.  B.  Show's  thor- 
ough work  on  Congregational  Schools  published  in  Cald- 
well's History  of  Education  in  Nebraska;  the  "Life  and 
Labors  of  Reuben  Gaylord"  ;  and  other  sources  of  infor- 
mation which  have  been  placed  within  my  reach.  In  refer- 
ence to  the  pictures  of  workers  in  the  state,  I  have  been 
fortunate  in  securing  the  photographs  of  some  of  the  early 
pioneer  fathers  whose  faces  all  will  be  glad  to  see  on  the 
printed  page.  I  have  failed  to  secure  some  that  I  especially 
desired  to  have.     Some  I  was  unable  to  find;  others  were 


VI  PREFACE 

too  feeble  to  sit  for  a  photograph  and  had  none  which  they 
could  send. 

The  Western  Publishing  and  Engraving  Co.,  which  is 
publishing  the  Morton  Illustrated  History  of  Nebraska, 
printed  by  Jacob  North  &  Co.,  has  added  several  illustrations 
of  Nebraska  and  Nebraska  pioneers  which  have  increased 
the  attractiveness  and  value  of  the  book.  These  illustrations 
could  not  otherwise  have  been  obtained.  I  count  myself 
happy  and  the  public  fortunate  in  the  choice  of  publishers. 

With  the  exception  of  the  Moderators  of  the  General 
Association,  and  members  of  the  Advisory  Board,  which  is 
entering  so  largely  in  the  development  of  modern  Congre- 
gationalism in  the  state,  I  have  asked  no  one"  resident  in 
Nebraska  for  his  picture,  unless  he  .had  been  twenty-five 
years  in  service  in  the  state.  If  any  other  pictures  have  been 
introduced  it  is  through  the  courtesy  of  the  publishers.  I 
may  have  overlooked  some  of  the  pioneers  who  should  have 
had  a  place  in  the  book ;  if  so,  it  was  not  intentional  on  my 
part  but  due  rather  to  my  lack  of  familiarity  with  the  per- 
sonnel of  the  pioneer  fathers,  especially  the  laymen. 

I  wish  here,  for  valuable  services  rendered,  to  extend  my 
thanks  to  Rev.  G.  G.  Rice  of  Council  Blufifs,  Iowa;  Rev. 
A.  L.  Riggs,  D.D.,  of  Santee,  Nebraska;  Mrs.  A.  N.  God- 
dard  of  Connecticut ;  Mrs.  E.  G.  Piatt  of  Ohio ;  Rev.  A.  F. 
Sherrill,  D.D.,  of  Massachusetts ;  Rev.  C.  W.  Merrill  and 
Rev.  John  L.  Maile  of  California ;  Rev.  A.  A.  Cressman  of 
Iowa ;  Rev.  G.  W.  Mitchell  of  Clarks ;  Supt.  Harmon  Bross, 
D.D.,  Mrs.  H.  Bross,  Rev.  Lewis  Gregory,  and  Editor  H. 
A.  French  of  Lincoln ;  Mr.  C.  S.  Paine  of  the  Morton  Illus- 
trated History  of  Nebraska ;  Pres.  D.  B.  Perry,  D.D.,  and 
Rev.  Laura  H.  Wild  of  Doane  College ;  Dr.  George  L. 
Miller  of  Omaha;  Col.  S.  S.  Cotton  of  Norfolk;  Supt.  J.  D. 
Stewart  of  the  Congregational  Sunday  School  and  Publish- 
ing Society ;  Rev.  Charles  G.  Bisbee  of  Arlington ;  Rev.  C. 


PREFACE  vn 

S.  Harrison  of  York;  Rev.  John  Gray  of  Basin;  Rev.  W. 
S.  Hampton  of  Dodge;  Rev.  George  E.  Taylor  of  Pierce; 
Rev.  A.  E.  Ricker  of  Aurora;  Rev.  George  Scott,  D.D.,  of 
Wisner;  the  scribes  of  the  local  associations  who  furnished 
valuable  data  not  found  in  the  state  minutes,  and,  last  but 
not  least,  to  Rev.  and  Mrs.  J.  E.  Storm  of  Lincoln,  who 
prepared  the  major  part  of  the  tables  in  Part  HI,  which  are 
of  especial  value  for  reference. 

These  friends  have  contributed  in  no  small  degree  to  the 
value  of  this  book,  and  if  it  is  acceptable  to  the  Congrega- 
tionalists  in  the  state  much  of  the  credit  is  due  them. 
Hoping  that  Congregational  Nebraska  may  have  a  mission 
for  good  in  the  state,  it  is  now  given  the  general  public. 

MOTIER  A.  BULLOCK. 

Lincoln,  October  i,  1905. 


CONTENTS 

PAGE 

Preface .         .         .         .     v 

Introduction  .......  3 

Part  I — Development  of  Church  Life 

CHAPTER    I 

The  field  ........       9 

CHAPTER   II 

Congregational  pioneers    .          .          .          .          .  -13 

Gov.   Richardson    .          .          .          .          .          .  13 

Dr.  Geo.  L.  Miller     .          .          .          .          .  -13 

Rev.  G.  G.  Rice     ......  15 

Reuben  Gaylord         .....  16-18 

The  Congregational  Association  of  Iowa        .          .  19 

CHAPTER    III 

Development  of  Church  life      .          .          .          .  .20 

Historic   date          ......  21 

Temperance   work      .          .          .          .          .  -23 

The  Fremont  Church     .....  23 

CHAPTER  IV 

The  State  Association  of  Congregational  Churches  in 

Nebraska       .......         25 

CHAPTER  V 

Some   discouragements      .  .  .  .  .  .28 

CHAPTER  VI 

Early  declarations       .......         30 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER  VII 


A  new  era  in  Church  development     .          .          .  -34 

Railroad  extension          .....  34 

New  towns  and  churches  .          .          .          .  -35 

CHAPTER  VIII 

Gaylord  as  Home  Missionary  Superintendent       .  .     36 
First  visit  of  National  Secretary  A.  H.  M.  S.    .  37 
The  American  S.  S.  Union           .          .          .  -37 
Memorial  to  Pres.  U.  S.  Grant,  in  behalf  of  Ne- 
braska  Indians         .....  38 
The  Pawnee  Indians       .          .          .          .  -43 

CHAPTER  IX 

Removal  of  the  capital     .          .          .          .          .  .46 

Mr.  Gaylord' s  report     .....  46 

The  Fremont  Church         .          .          .          .  -47 

CHAPTER  X 

Rev.  O.  W.  Merrill,  Superintendent    .          .          .  .48 

Father   Gaylord     ......  48 

The  prayer-meeting  .          .          .          .          .  '50 

The  Pilgrim's  idea  and  practice       ...  50 

Amos  Dresser  .          .          .          .          .          .  -51 

Supt.  Merrill's  report    .....  52 

Rev.  J.  B.  Chase  as  acting  superintendent    .  .      53 

Organization  of  woman's  work       •          •          •  53 

CHAPTER  XI 

Rev.  H.  N.  Gates,  Superintendent     .          .          .  -54 

The  ravages  of  locusts        .         .         .         .         .  56 

Rev.  Lewis  Gregory           .          .          .          .  -57 


CONTENTS  XI 

CHAPTER  XII 

Sunda\-  school  development 5^ 

Letter  from   Superintendent   Stewart      .  •  ■  5^ 

Translation  of  Reuben  Gaylord  .  .  .  .60 

Letter  from  ^Irs.  A.  N.  Goddard  ....  62 

CHAPTER  Xlll 

Rev.  C.  W.  Merrill,  Superintendent  .  .  .  -63 

^ilodern  development  of  Congregationalism      .  63 

Nebraska  Congregational  News  .  .  .  -65 
Organization  Nebraska  Home  Missionary  Society  65 
Superintendent  Merrill's  report        ...  67 

The  Nebraska  Sunday  School  Assembly  .  .  68 
The  German  work         .....  68 

Letter  from  Rev.  C.  W.  Merrill  .  .  .  .68 

CHAPTER   XIV 

Rev.  J.  L.  Made,  Superintendent       .  .  •  •      7^ 

Rev.  H.  Bross,  General  Missionary  .  .  71 

Church  activity  .  .  •  •  •  -73 

Church  polity 73 

Letter  from  Dr.  A.  F.  Sherrill  .  .  .  -74 
Letter  from  Rev.  J.  L.  Made       ....         75 

CHAPTER   XV 

Rev.  Llarmon  Bross,  D.D.,  Superintendent  .  .      81 

Letter  from  Dr.  Bross  .  .  .  .  -  81 

Reports  from  Superintendents  Bross  and  Stewart,  85,  86 
The  frontier  ....•••  86 
Revs.  G.  T.  Powell  and  George  E.  Taylor  appointed 

General  Missionaries        ....  87 

The   drouth 87 

The  translation  of  Isaac  E.  Heaton  .  .  88 

-  A  typical  meeting      .  .  .  •  •  .90 

The  second  drouth   .  .      .  .  •  •  9^ 

Dr.  Crofts  on  the  watch  tower   .  .  .  -9^ 


XI 1  CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  XVI 

Recent  declarations  .  .  .  .  .  -94 

Arn^y   chaplains     ......  94 

The  Crete  assembly   .  .  .  .  .  -95 

Divorce  and  desertion    .....  96 

Polygamy  .  .  .  .  .  .  -97 

The  New  Jersey  Plan  of  Union       ...  98 

Dr.  A.  H.  Bradford's  letter         .  .  .  .98 

The    National    Council    (1904)    on   church    union     99 
Obstacles  in  the  way      .....  99 

The  Geneva  meeting  and  church  union         .  .    100 

Other  declarations  ....  100-102 

CHAPTER    XVII 

Centralization         ........  103 

The  State  Advisory  Board 104 

The  Nebraska  Idea 107 

The  ecclesiastical  standing  of  churches  and  ministers  107 

Evangelism     .........  109 

CHAPTER   XVIll 

The  outlook no 

The   Lincoln   convocation  .         .         .         .         .  112 

The  incorporation  of  the  Nebraska  Home  Missionary 

Society 115 

The   responsibility    of   the   churches         .         .         .  116 

CHAPTER    XIX 

Phases  of  Church  growth         .         .         .         .         .  117 

Congregationalism  in  Lincoln,  Rev.  Lewis  Gregory  118 

The  growth  of  churches       .         .         .         .         .  .121 

The  German  work  in  Lincoln  and  in  the  state         .  122 

The   German   Pro-Seminary          .         .         .         .  .123 

Congregationalism  in  the  Elkhorn  valley — 

Col.  S.  S.  Cotton 124 


CONTENTS  XUl 

Congregationalism  in  the  Republiean  valley — 

Rev.   W.   S.   Hampton           .         .'        .         .  .134 

Rev.   Geo.  E.  Taylor 134 

Congregationalism  in  western   Nebraska — 

Rev.  A.  E.  Ricker 143 

Ogalalla,   Nebraska            .....  144 

Jnlesburg,  Colorado       .         .         .         .         .  -145 

CHAPTER    XX 

Pioneer  exj^eriences  ......  147 

Mrs.  E.  G.  Piatt,  missionary  teacher  among  the  Paw- 
nee Indians  .......     147 

Rev.  C.  S.  Harrison         .         .         .         .         .         ,         154 

The  liquor  war     .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .156 

Rev.  A.  A.  Cressman        .         ,         .         .         .         .         158 

Dr.  George  Scott         .......     161 

Re^■.  John  Gray         .......          164 

Rev.  A.  E.  Ricker        .         .         .         .         .         .         .169 

"Father  Barrow's   Story" — Rev.  J.   E.   Storm         .  188 

CHAPTER    XXI 

Woman's  work  in  Nebraska, 

Rev.  Laura  H.  Wild         .         .         .         .         .         191 
List  of  presidents  and  secretaries,  Mrs.   PL   Bross     .     196 

Part  II — Congregational  Schools  in    Nebraska 

CHAPTER   I 

The   Fontanelle   school  .         .         .         .         .         .201 

Letter  from  C.  G.  Bisbee         .....         206 

Causes   operating  against   P'ontanelle  .         .         .     207 

Discussion  of  new  location  for  a  Congregational  school  209 
College  located  at  Crete  .         .         .         .         .         211 

The  end  of  the  Fontanelle  school         .         .         .         .212 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER  II 

Doane   College       ........ 

Dr.  Willard  Scott's  address  at  the  fifteenth  anniversary 
Founding  of  Crete  Academy         .         .         .         .         . 

The   founding  of  Doane  College     .... 

Financial  struggle         ....... 

Thomas   Doane  ....... 

The  Head  of  the  college     ...... 

The  deliberation  of  the  trustees         .... 

Foreign  population       ....... 

President   Perry's   reports         ..... 

CHAPTER    III 

Education  in  the  state         .         .         .         .         . 
The  attitude  of  the  General  Association 
The  minute  of  Chancellor  Manatt         .         .         .         . 
The  Pro-Seminary  at  Crete     ..... 
A  Committee  on  Education         .         .         .         .         . 


213 
213 

215 
216 
218 
219 
226 
231 
232 

233 


237 
238 
238 

239 

240 


CHAPTER    IV 

The  college  question 

Gates  College       .... 

Vote  to  recognize  defeated 

Dr.  Duryea's  resolution 

Proposed  consolidation  of  Doane  and 

An   educational   commission 

The  attitude  of  Doane  College 

Trouble  at  Gates  College     . 

A  third  school— "Norfolk  College" 

Gates  becomes  an  academy 

Results  of  the  controversy 

The   standing  of   Doane   College 

Attitude   of   the   churches 


Gates 


241 
241 
242 
243 
243 
244 
244 

245 

245 
245 
245 
246 
248 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER  V 


Congregational  academies  in  Nebraska, 

Rev.  G.  W.  Mitchell 254 

CHAPTER  VI 

A  comparative  study 259 

CHAPTER  VII 

Santee   Normal   Training  School         ....  265 

Character  of  the   training         ....  265 

Pupils  in  the  school 270 

The   Riggs   family     .         .         .         .         .         .  271 

Artemas  Ehnamani        ......  272 

The  oversight  of  the  Santee  school         .         .  275 

Missionaries  at  Santee  .....  275 

Part  III 

TABLES 
I 

Sessions  of  the  General  Association         .         .         .         280 

II 
Superintendents  of  home  missions         ....     281 

III 
Corporate  members  of  the  American  Board     .         .         281 

IV 

On  the  foreign  field     . 282 

V 

Delegates  to  the  National  Council   . .         .         .         .         283 

VI 

List  of  churches  dropped     ......     286 

VII 

Land   grants     .         . 290 


xvi  CONTENTS 


VIII 


Pastorates  in  living  churches 298 


IX 


Alphabetical  list  of  ministers  ....         323 


ILLrSTRATIoXS 


Rev.   Reuben  C.aylonl  ....         frontispiece 

rit-a-le-shar-u.  head  cliiet   <it   tlie    Pawnees 

Samuel  Allis 

C)niaha  in  1870 

Modern  Omaha         .....•• 
First    territorial    capitol    building 

Origen  D.  Richardson 

Rev.   George   G.    Rice 

Omaha  in   1854  ...... 

First  Congregational  Church.  Omaha,   1855 
First  Congregational  Church.  (  ^n-:aha.   1905     . 

Rev.    Isaac   E.    Heaton 

Mrs.    Isaac   E.    Heaton     ..... 

Rev.   Silas  J.    Francis 

E.   FI.    r>arnard  ...... 

Site  of  "Xebraska  University."   Foutanelle,   1905 
Bellevue.   Xebraska.    1856         .... 

Rev.  A.  F.  Sherrill.  D.D 

Some  prominent  laymen  .... 

Dr.  Geo.  L.  Miller 

Hon.  FI.  H.  Shedd 

Deacon  Geo.  T.  Lee 

Deacon  Geo.  S.  Harris 
Sioux  chief,  Spotted  Tail     ......       42 

Lincoln,   Nebraska,   in    1870 44 

A  section  of  modern  Lincoln         .....       45 

Rev.   O.   W.   Merrill 49 

Rev.  Amos  Dresser 5^ 

Rev.  H.  X.  Gates 55 

Grasshopper  scene,  Plattsmouth,  Xebraska,  1876         .       56 


4 

6 
10 
1 1 
12 
14 
15 
19 
21 
22 

23 
24 

25 
26 
28 
32 
36 
40 


XVlll  ILLUSTRATIONS 

Rev.  J.  D.   Stewart 59 

Sunday  school,  Greeley  count)',  Nebraska,  photo  fur- 
nished  by   W.    H.    Kimberly,    Lincoln,    Nebraska, 

State    Sunday    School    Superintendent    American 

Sunday    School  Union  .         .         .         .         .61 

Rev.    C.    W.    Merrill 64 

Rev.  H.  A.  French  and  the  Nebraska  Congregational 

Nezus 66 

Rev.  John  L.  Maile,  M.A 72 

Rev.   Harmon  Bross,  D.D.  .....       82 

Group  of  portraits  ......  89 

Rev.  S.  N.  Grout 

Rev.  VV.  P.  Bennett 

Rev.  William  Leavitt 

Rev.  D.  Dififenbacher 
'Members  of  the  Advisory  Board         ....     108 

H.  C.  Herring,  D.D.,  Chairman 

Rev.  G.  W.  Mitchell 

J.  W.  Cowan,  U.D. 

Rev.  V.  F.  Clark 
C.  B.  Anderson,  Crete     .         .         .         .         .         .         11 1 

Falls  of  the  North  Loup  river 114 

Rev.   Charles  Little 117 

First  Congregational  Church,  Lincoln,  t868         .         .118 
First  Congregational  Church,   Lincoln,    1905  .          119 

Rev.  Lewis  Gregory     .......     120 

Rev.  William  Suess,  Crete         .         .         .         .         .          123 

Col.  S.  S.  Cotton         .         .         .         .         .         .         .125 

Col.    Charles    Mathewsou 126 

Group  of  portraits         .         .         .         .         .         .         .127 

George  Scott,  D.D. 

Rev.  J.  W^  Kidder 

Rev.  M.  B.  Harrison 

Rev.  Georsre  E.  Ta^'lor  • 


ILLUSTRATIONS  XIX 

Group  of  portraits         .         .         .         ,         .         .         .138 

Rev.  W.  S.  Hampton 

Rev.  R.  S.  Pierce 

Principal  A.  C.  Hart 

Principal  F.  C.  Taylor 

Rov.  Henry  Bates 137 

Rev.  S.  C.  Dean 139 

Mrs.   E.    G.    Piatt 148 

Pawnee  Indian  village,   1854,  from  a  drawing  by  Geo. 

Simons         ...         .         .         ,         .         .  150 

Rev.  C.  S.  Harrison     .         .         .         .         .         .         .154 

Rev.  A.  A.  Cressman         .         ,         .         .         .         .          159 

Group  of  portraits 165 

Rev.  John  Gray 

Rev.  J.  E.  Storm 

Rev.  George  E.  Hall 

Rev.  G.  ^^^  Wainwright 
Group  of  portraits         .         .         .         .         .         .         •     i/l 

Rev.  S.  I.  Hanford 

Rev.  \V.  J.  Turner 

Rev.  John  Doane 

Rev.  A.  E.  Rickcr 

Rev.  E.  Cressman 
Xorth   Face   of   Pine   Ridge         .         .         >         .         ,174 
Industrial  scene  on  the  Union  Pacific  railroad         .  180 

Toadstool  Park,  Sioux  county  Bad  Lands,  on  Burling- 
ton and  Missouri  river  railroad     .       .         .         .184 
"\\'estern  Nebraska  under  irrigation  on  Union   Pacific 

railroad         ........         187 

Logan  Fontenelle,  Omaha  Indian  chief         .         .         .     202 
Rev.    C.   G.    Eisbee,   Arlington         ....         206 

L'niversity  of  Nebraska        ......     208 

Doane  College,  Crete         .         .         .         .         .         .         214 


XX  XI.LUS-TRATlONij' 

Group  of  portraits         .         .         .         .         .         .         .217 

Prof.  A.  B.  Fairchikl 

Prof.  J.  S.   Brown 

Prof.  G.  D,  Swezey 

John  L.  Tidball 
Colonel  Thomas,  Doane         .         .         ,         .         .         .221 

President  D.  B.  Perr>',  D.D.       .       .         .         .         .  228 

Chancellor  E.   B.   Fairfield,   D.D 235 

Chancellor  I.  J.  Manatt,  D.D.,  LL.D.       .         .         .  237 

Franklin  Academy         .......  255 

Gates  Academy         .......  257 

Weeping  Water  Academy       .     .         .         .         ,         .  260 

Chadron  Academy       .......  262 

Santee  Normal  Indian  Training-  School       .         .         .  266 

Rev.    A.    L.    Riggs,    D.D 267 

High  school  pupils,  Santee  Indian  Training  School     .  268 

Group  of  Omaha  Indians         .....  269 

Rev.  Artemas  Ehnamani       ......  272 


PART  I 


DEVELOPMENT  OF  CHURCH  LIFE 


INTRODUCTION 

In  writing  a  jubilee  volume  commemorating-  the  work  of 
Congregationalists  in  Nebraska  the  question  arises,  Where 
shall  w^e  drive  the  first  historic  peg?  Shall  it  be  at  the  or- 
ganization of  the  General  Association  of  Congregational 
Churches  of  Nebraska,  the  coming  of  Reuben  Gaylord,  the 
beginning  of  organized  w^ork  in  Omaha,  or  the  advent  of 
Congregationalists  in  the  territory  who  were  here  ready  to 
welcome  the  missionary  when  he  came? 

Gov.  O.  D.  Richardson  came  to  Omaha  from  Michigan 
in  September,  1854.  It  was  he  who  persuaded  Rev.  Reuben 
Gaylord  to  come  to  the  territory,  or  at  least  "gave  him  his 
call."  Congregationalists  were  in  the  territory  at  that  time. 
If  we  drive  a  peg  here  our  jubilee  year  is  passed.  It  was 
also  as  early  as  September,  1854,  that  Rev.  G.  G.  Rice  se- 
cured lots  for  the  expected  Congregational  Church  in 
Omaha. 

In  January,  1855,  Mr.  Rice  preached  the  first  Congrega- 
tional sermon  in  Omaha,  and  in  December,  1855,  Rev. 
Reuben  Gaylord  began  his  work;  1905  may  well,  then,  be 
taken  as  the  jubilee  year  of  Congregational  Nebraska. 

May  4,  1856,  the  First  Church,  Omaha,  was  organized  ; 
1906  will  then  be  a  jubilee  year  for  Omaha.  August  8, 
1857,  the  General  Association  of  Congregational  Churches 
in  Nebraska  was  organized ;  1907  will  be  another  jubilee 
year.  And  so  it  would  seem  our  jubilee  time  of  rejoicing 
and  planning  for  larger  things  extends  over  a  period  of 
several  years. 

We,  however,  make  a  mistake  if  w'e  think  that  the  first 
missionary  work  in  Nebraska  was  as  late  as  1854-55.  As 
early  as  1843  ^I^s.  E.  G.  Piatt,  whose  interesting  letter  will 

3 


PIT-A-LE-SHAR-U 
Head  Chief  of  the  Pawnees 


INTRODUCTION  5 

be  for.nd  in  the  cha])tcr  on  rionccr  lCx[)crioiiccs,  began  work 
as  a  teacher  amonj^:  the  Pawnee  IntUans  in  Nebraska.  But 
she  says  she  was  invited  to  come  by  missionaries  of  the 
American  Board.  Who  were  they,  and  when  did  they  come 
to  Nebraska?  Inciuiry  at  the  rooms  of  the  A.  B.  C.  F.  M. 
in  Boston  brought  the  following  interesting  information : 

Tlie  American  Board  sent  as  missionaries  to  the  Pawnee 
Indians  in  the  Nebraska  country  in  i8j;^: 

"Rev.  John  Dunbar,  who  was  born  in  Pahner,  Massa- 
chusetts, March  4,  1804;  a  graduate  of  WMlHams  College  in 
1832,  and  Auburn  Seminary  in  1854;  ordained  Ithaca,  New 
York,  May  i,  1834,  and  set  out  from  Ithaca,  ]\Iay  5,  1834, 
for  Nebraska.  He  arrived  at  Ft.  Leavenworth,  Kansas, 
June  26,  and  at  Bellevue,  near  Council  IMuff,  the  following 
October. 

"The  Chief  of  the  Grand  Pawnees  (one  of  their  four 
bands )  wished  Mr.  Dimbar  to  go  with  him  on  his  trips.  He 
went  with  this  band  on  several  of  their  long  hunting  expe- 
ditions. Mr.  Dunbar  returned  to  New  England,  September, 
1836,  married  Aliss  Esther  Smith.  January  12,  1837,  and 
returned  with  her  in  May  <i»f  the  same  year.  They  resided 
in  Bellevue,  near  the  agency,  until  April,  1841,  when  he  re- 
moved 130  miles  to  a  Pawnee  village. 

"In  June,  1843.  ^^lis  village  was  raided  by  the  Sioux, 
and  many  Pawnees  were  killed,  w^ounded,  or  carried  away 
captive.  Other  similar  attacks  were  afterward  made,  and 
the  mission  was  given  up  in  1847. 

"Rev.  P.  E.  Ranney  and  wife  joined  this  mission  in  1844, 
but  were  transferred  to  the  Cherokee  mission  in  1847. 

"Benedict  Satterlee,  a  physician,  and  wife  set  out  for  the 
mission  March  2,  1836.  She  died  on  the  way  in  Liberty, 
Missouri,  April  30,  1836.  He  reached  Bellevue.  May  27, 
1836,  and  was  murdered  while  on  a  missionary  tour  by  a 
renegade  white  man,  ^lay  10,   1837. 


INTRODUCTION 


"Samuel  Allis,  farmer  and  teacher,  left  Ithaca  with  Mr. 
Dunbar  for  the  Pawnee  village,  May  5,  1834;  married 
Emiline  Palmer  at  Liberty,  Missouri,  she  having  come  from 


SAMUEL    ALLIS 

Ithaca,    New   York,   with   Dr.    and    Mrs.    Satterlee.      They 
were  released  from  the  service  of  the  board  in  1846. 

"George  B.  Gaston  and  wife  arrived  at  the  mission  May, 
1840,  and  were  released  from  service  in  1842." 

There  were  then  engaged  in  Congregational  work  in 
Nebraska,  years  before  Father  Gaylord  came  to  the  terri- 
tory,  these  missionaries  besides   Mrs.   Piatt,   who  was   not 


Introduction  7 

commissionctl  b_\-  the  board,  bul  who  ihd  splendid  service 
as  a  Congregational  worker. 

Eighteen  hundred  and  eighty-four  was,  then,  a  jubilee 
year,  but  it  was  passed  by  unnoticed. 

Historical  accuracy,  as  well  as  denominational  loyalty 
calls  upon  us  to  make  honorable  mention  of  these  brave 
men  and  women  who  counted  not  their  lives  dear  unto 
themselves,  that  they  might  take  the  Gospel  of  the  dear 
Lord  to  the  Indian  tribes  living  in  Nebraska.  One  will  need 
to  read  between  the  lines  to  enter  into  the  real  spirit  of  our 
pioneer  fathers.  The  allusions  to  the  periods  of  drouth  and 
grasshopper  plague  are  simply  a  hint  at  the  terrible  suffer- 
ings and  deprivations  many  endured.  It  is  a  pathetic  chap- 
ter in  the  history  of  our  state.  It  revealed  many  unnamed 
heroes  and  heroines ;  men  and  women  who  believed  in  Ne- 
braska and  stayed  by  the  \vork  in  the  dark  hour  of  need. 
They  have  lived  to  see  the  state  rich  and  prosperous,  and 
have  learned  that  drouths  and  plagues  are  not  confined  to 
the  region  once  called  "The  American  Desert,"  and  that 
this  "arid"  region  has  sufficient  moisture  to  insure  large 
returns  from  the  cultivation  of  its  rich,  strong  soil. 

Nebraska  faces  the  future  wath  courage  and  hope. 


CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 


Tin-:  FIKLD 

Fifty-one  years  aj^o,  ^fay  30,  1854.  the  Kansas-Nebraska 
bill  was  enacted. 

That  meant  the  rapid  settlement  of  the  new  West ;  that 
the  "American  desert"  should  blossom  as  the  rose;  and  that 
the  great  moral  question  of  slavery  or  no  slavery  should  be 
settled  by  these  new  territories  for  themselves.  We  are  all 
familiar  with  the  story  of  "bleeding  Kansas,"  and  how  she 
won  the  victory  for  freedom. 

It  was  through  the  iirrmigration  of  the  liberty-loving  sons 
and  daughters  of  the  East — the  transplanting  of  a  virile 
New  England  stock  in  this  western  land.  That  victory  de- 
termined in  large  measure  the  moral  status  of  Nebraska  on 
the  slavery  question. 

The  territory  at  that  time  extended  from  latitude  40°  to 
British  America,  and  from  the  Missouri  river  to  the  ridge 
of  the  Rocky  mountains,  a  vast  empire  of  some  350,000 
square  miles.  A  portion  of  this  territory  has  been  given  to 
Dakota,  Montana,  Wyoming,  and  Colorado,  leaving  a 
stretch  of  territory  some  200  miles  from  north  to  south  and 
450  miles  from  the  Missouri  river  west.  Its  altitude  ranges 
from  1,000  feet  on  the  east  to  5,000  feet  on  the  west.  Its 
soil  is  unsurpassed.  The  eastern  portion  is  a  splendid  farm- 
ing country ;  the  western  is  especially  valuable  for  stock 
raising.  Such  a  territory  was  bound  to  attract  settlers  from 
the  East,  even  as  Iowa  had  attracted  them  a  few  years  be- 
fore.    They  came  in  ever-increasing  mnnbers.     They  and 

9 


12 


congrp:gational  nep.raska 


their  descendants  are  among  us  to-day.     Who  were  they? 
And  what  is  their  influence? 


^^^fS^r^M^^ 


FIRST  TERRITORIAL  CAPITOL  BUILDING  OF   NEBRASKA 
AT  0]MAHA 


It  is  the  purpose  of  this  sketch  to  answer  in  part  the 
questions,  to  tell  the  .story,  though  imperfectly  it  must  needs 
be,  of  the  Congregationalists  who  came  hither,  and  what 
they  have  accomplished.  Our  treatise,  then,  is  Congrega- 
tional Nebraska. 


CON  G  U  I-:G  AT  ION  A I .    lUO  N  V.  EiiS  I  3 

II 
CONGREGATIONAL    I'lOXKKUS 

Lying  just  west  of  Iowa  it  was  natural  that  Nebraska 
should  attract  some  of  the  pioneer  preachers  from  the  "Mas- 
sachusetts of  the  West"  to  her  own  land  of  promise.  One 
of  these  pioneers,  the  Reverend  Reuben  Gaylord,  was  the 
first  settled  Conoregational  minister  in  Nebraska. 

The  way  had  in  part  been  prepared  for  him  by  Gov.  O.  1). 
Richardson,  for  four  years  Lieutenant  Governor  of  Michi- 
gan, Dr.  George  L.  Miller,  a  physician  of  Omaha,  and  the 
Rev.  George  G.  Rice,  pastor  of  the  Congregational  church 
in  Council  lUufifs,  Iowa.  Governor  Richardson  was  a  native 
of  Vermont,  came  to  Michigan  when  thirty-two  years  of  age, 
settling  in  Pontiac.  He  came  to  Omaha  in  September, 
1854,  was  an  earnest  Congregationalist,  a  man  of  wisdom 
and  strength  of  character. 

Mr.  Gaylord  said  of  Governor  Richardson:  "He  was 
an  intelligent  Congregationalist,  and  desired  to  see  the  Gos- 
pel standard  raised  in  this,  the  frontier  town.  .  .  He 
was  a  wise  counselor  in  church  organization  and  church 
building.  .  .  He  took  great  interest  in  all  that  concerned 
the  welfare  of  the  church,  and  ever  proved  one  of  its  pillars 
— was  constant  in  attendance  upon  Sabbath  worship  and 
the  pravcr  meeting,  and  was  a  man  around  wh(im  others 
loved  to  gather."^ 

This  Christian  lawyer  had  much  to  do  with  laying  the 
foundations  of  Congregationalism  in  Nebraska. 

Dr.  George  L.  Miller  was  one  of  the  first  trustees  of  the 
old  First  Church  in  Omaha,-  a  warm  friend  and  valuable 

'Gaylord's  Life,  p.  334. 

=  Personal  letter  to  the  writer  dated  June  23,  1904. 


H 


CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 


helper  in  pioneer  Congregational  work.  It  is  he  who  tells 
this  interesting  incident  in  connection  with  the  early  work 
of  Reuben  Gaylord :  In  going  by  the  improvised  chapel  he 
heard  the  voice  of  a  man  in  prayer,  and  looking  in  he  saw 


ORIGEN    D.    RICHARDSON 
Trustee  First  Congregational  Church,  Omaha 


Mr.  Gaylord  on  his  knees  praying  that  the  Lord  would  send 
him  an  audience.  Dr.  Miller  also  said  in  a  letter  to  Dr. 
Joseph  B.  Clark,  Secretary  of  the  National  Home  Mission- 
ary society :     "It  was  Reuben  Gaylord,  the  brave  Christian 


CONGREGATIONAL   nONEF.RS 


15 


soldier,   wlio  brought  Sunday  into  Omaha  and  the  trans- 
Missouri  countrv."'^ 


j 

1 

'««  '^ 

i 

'*^-^-.. 

^ 

b 

1^/ 

\ 

REV.  GEO.  G.  RICE 
Who  preached  the  first  Congregational  sermon  in  Nebraska  territory 


The  writer  has  been  at  considerable  pains  to  ascertain 
who  preached  the  first  Congregational  sermon  in  Nebraska. 
There  seemed  to  be  different  opinions  in  reference  to  the 

'Leavening  the  Nation,  by  Dr.  Joseph  B.  Clark,  p.  119. 


1 6  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

matter.     Fortunately  a   letter   from  the   Rev.   G.   G.   Rice* 
settles  the  question.     Mr.  Rice  writes : 

"Dr.  D.  B.  Coe,  Secretary  A.  H.  M.  Society,  wrote  me 
in  July,  1854,  requesting  that  I  keep  the  society  informed 
in  regard  to  the  settlements  and  needs  of  Nebraska.  Au- 
gust 4,  I  replied :  'The  Indians  have  not  yet  been  removed 
to  their  reservations,  and  until  that  time  the  territory  will 
not  be  open  to  settlement.  The  agent  is  hastening  the  re- 
moval of  the  Indians,  and  the  territory  will  likely  be  open 
for  settlers  in  a  few  days.'  September  19  I  wrote  again : 
'The  Indians  have  been  removed  and  there  is  a  brisk  move- 
ment into  the  territory.  Omaha,  just  across  the  river  from 
Council  Bluffs,  is  to  be  the  capital  of  the  territory.  A  steam 
ferry  boat  is  conveying  material  across  the  river  for  the 
capitol  building,  which  is  already  under  way.  Omaha 
should  have  a  minister  as  soon  as  a  suitable  man  can  be 
found,  for,  being  the  capital,  it  will  build  up  rapidly.  An- 
other man  should  be  sent  to  the  territory  as  general 
missionary.' 

"About  this  time  I  secured  two  lots — a  gift  from  the 
'Omaha  Land  Co.' — for  a  Congregational  church.  When 
the  church  was  built  one  of  the  lots  was  sold  for  $700,  and 
the  money  was  used  in  building. 

"The  latter  part  of  January,  1855,  I  spent  a  Sabbath  in 
Omaha  and  preached  morning  and  evening  in  the  legisla- 
tive hall,  and  Monday  morning  I  officiated  as  chaplain  in 
the  same  hall.  This  was  the  first  Congregational  sermon 
in  Nebraska  after  the  territory  was  organized.  There  were 
a  fev/  Congregationalists  in  Omaha  at  this  time  with  whom 
I  was  frequently  in  conference,  trying  to  aid  them  in  se- 
curing a  minister. 

"In  September,  1855,  Rev.  Reuben  Gaylord  came  across 
the  state  on  a  vacation  tour.     I  went  with  him  to  Omaha 

^  Dated  July  5,  1904. 


CONGREGATIONAL   TIONEERS  1 7 

and  \vc  called  upon  (iovcrnor  Richardson  and  made  ar- 
rangements for  Brother  Ciaylord  to  preach  in  Omaha  the 
next  Sabbath  afternoon.  Sabbath,  after  morning  service  in 
Council  Blufts,  we  rode  down  to  the  river,  tied  our  horse 
in  the  willows,  and  were  conveyed  across  the  river  in  a 
canoe.  At  the  close  of  the  (afternoon)  service  several  per- 
sons expressed  the  wish  that  Mr.  Gaylord  would  come  and 
be  their  minister.  After  considerable  correspondence  he 
resigned  his  charge  in  the  eastern  part  of  this  state,  and 
came  to  Council  Bluffs  with  his  family,  December  22,  1855, 
on  his  way  to  Omaha,  where  he  at  once  commenced  mis- 
sionary labors.  .  .  The  slow  movement  of  Congrega- 
tional ministers  into  Nebraska  was  the  cause  of  some  Con- 
gregational settlements  being  organized  into  Presbyterian 
churches,  yet  Congregationalism  has  flourished  and  been  a 
power  for  good  in  Nebraska." 

Mr.  Gaylord's  visit  to  Omaha  in  September,  1855,  was 
for  the  purpose  of  learning  the  particulars  in  reference  to 
the  last  sickness  and  death  of  a  nephew  who  had  lived  in 
Omaha,  and.  while  in  Omaha  he  consulted  with  Dr.  Miller, 
who  was  his  nephew's  family  physician.  We  may  rest  as- 
sured that  their  conversation  was  not  limited  to  family  mat- 
ters, but  included  the  pressing  needs  of  a  new  town  and 
growing  territory.  "Being  invited  to  preach  the  next  day 
he  consented,  but  returned  to  Council  Bluffs  and  officiated 
for  Rev.  Mr.  Rice  on  Sabbath  morning  as  he  had  promised. 
In  the  afternoon  he  recrossed  the  river  and  preached  in  the 
old  state  house.""  In  his  congregation  that  day  was  Gov- 
ernor Richardson  whom  he  had  met  the  day  before,  and 
who,  with  others,  gave  him  the  call  to  Nebraska ;  and  it  was 
Governor  Richardson's  earnest  appeal  that  led  him  to  con- 
sider the  question  of  leaving  Iowa  for  this  land  of  promise, 
to  which  he  finally  came,  as  related  by  Mr.  Rice. 

'Life  of  Reuben  Gaylord,  p.  167. 
2 


1 8  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

Mr.  Rice  had  already  written  the  A.  H.  M.  Society"  of 
the  needs  of  Omaha,  that  he  held  the  deeds  for  lots  there 
for  a  church,  and  said  of  Governor  Richardson,  "He  is  now 
a  member  of  the  council  of  Nebraska,  is  a  member  of  the 
Congregational  church,  and  probably  would  do  what  he 
could  to  aid  and  sustain  the  minister  you  may  send  them." 

Others  also  were  looking  toward  the  setting  sun,  and 
seeing  visions  of  future  states,  of  the  growing  kingdom  of 
God. 

"In  the  latter  part  of  June,  1855,  Rev.  John  M.  Ellis, 
D.D.,  came  to  the  territory  to  select  a  site  for  a  Congrega- 
tional colony.  June  24  he  preached  for  Rev.  G.  G.  Rice, 
pastor  of  the  Congregational  church  in  Council  Bluflfs. 
Crossing  the  Missouri  at  that  point  he  spent  several  weeks 
in  explorations  along  the  river,  and  finally  chose  a  location 
for  his  colony.  The  land  chosen  lay  between  Omaha  and 
Florence,  at  that  time  hardly  more  than  names  upon  the 
map,  and  extended  some  distance  north  of  the  latter  place."' 

The  death  of  Dr.  Ellis,  August  6,  1855,  was  the  death 
also  of  his  enterprise.  What  missionary  work  he  may  have 
done,  and  where  he  preached  while  making  his  explorations, 
are  left  unrecorded  so  far  as  the  writer  can  learn.  No  rec- 
ords of  other  Congregational  ministers  visiting  Nebraska 
at  this  early  date  can  we  find.  Other  men  had  done  valu- 
able preliminar}^  work  for  the  future  state,  but  to  one  man 
belongs  the  honor  of  laying  deep  and  strong  the  foundation 
walls  of  our  Congregational  Zion,  and  that  man  was 

REUBEN  GAYLORD 

Reuben  Gaylord  was  born  in  Norfolk,  Connecticut,  April 
28,  1812;  graduated  from  Yale  College  in  1834;  taught  in 
Illinois  College  from  the  spring  of  1835  to  the  autumn  of 

"See  Gaylord's  Life,  p.  176. 
"Education  in  Nebraska,  p.  163. 


CONGREGATIONAL   PIONEERS  1 9 

1837;  returned  to  Yale  Seminary  for  further  study  in  1837; 
was  ordained  in  Plymouth,  Connecticut,  August,  1838,  as 
a  Congregational  minister,  and  the  same  month  left  New 
England  for  his  life  work  in  the  West.  He  first  settled  in 
Mt.  Pleasant,  Iowa,  and  afterward  located  in  Danville, 
where  he  lived  during  the  larger  part  of  his  residence  in 
Iowa. 

THE  CONGREGATIONAL  ASSOCIATION  OF  IOWA 

In  November,  1840,  Rev.  Harvey  Adams,  Rev.  Reuben 
Gaylord,  Rev.  Julius  A.  Reed,  and  Charles  Burnham,  a 
licentiate,  organized  the  Congregational  Association  of 
Iowa.  The  association  was  composed  of  three  churches, 
Denmark,  Danville,  and  Fairfield,  and  the  three  ministers 
just  mentioned.® 


OMAHA  IN  1854 

Reuben  (iaylord  was  one  who  hel])cd  organize  Iowa  Col- 
lege and  was  one  of  its  trustees  until  after  his  residence  in 
Nebraska  in  1855.  It  was  very  natural,  then,  that  he  should 
interest  himself  in  Christian  education  as  soon  as  he  found 
himself  settled  in  his  new  home  in  Omaha.  This  part  of 
his  work  will  be  considered  in  a  later  chapter. 


'See  Gaylord's  Life,  p.  109. 


20  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

III 

DEVELOPMENT  OF   CHURCH   LIFE 

Of  the  hardship  of  Mr.  Gaylord's  journey  to  Nebraska 
we  need  not  write ;  but  it  is  well  to  note  that  the  winter  of 
1855-56  was  intensely  cold,  the  thermometer  ranging  from 
25°  to  32°  below  zero.  It  is  no  wonder,  then,  that  in  the 
house,  or  partial  shelter  we  may  better  say,  which  our  mis- 
sionary found,  water  froze  within  a  foot  of  the  stozr,  which 
was  heated  as  hot  as  the  best  fuel  could  make  it.^  It  surely 
took  courage  and  a  warm  heart  to  withstand  the  cold.  But 
how  shall  a  missionary  live  on  $600  a  year  when  he  pays 
$21  a  month  rental  for  a  two-room  house,  $7  to  $8.50  for 
100  pounds  of  flour,  and -12^2  cents  a  pound  for  sugar? 
This  was  the  munificent  salary  granted  by  the  Home  Mis- 
sionary Society,  and  but  little  was  added  on  the  home  field. 
Our  pioneer  fathers  and  mothers  knew  the  meaning  of 
sacriticc,  and  the  ministers  wife  more  than  anyone  else 
entered  into  its  sterner  experience. 

But  severe  though  the  winter  was,  it  soon  passed,  and 
our  missionary  was  visiting  his  large  field  and  organizing 
churches. 

Mr.  Gaylord  was  a  man  who  could  never  be  content  with 
a  single  parish.  The  "regions  beyond"  were  his  also.  When 
he  reached  Omaha  he  found  a  Rev.  Isaac  F.  Collins,  M.  E. 
minister,  a  Methodist  class  of  six  members,  and  a  Baptist 
minister  by  the  name  of  Rev.  William  Leach.  With  these 
he  took  turn  in  holding  services  in  the  council  chamber  of 
the  old  state  house,  and  "Sunday  was  brought  into  Omaha." 

^Gaylord's  Life,  p.  179. 


DEVELOPMENT  OF  CHURCH   LIFE  H 

niSTOUlC    DATI-: 

It  was  May  4,  the  year  1856.  On  this  dale,  which  was 
the  Lord's  Day,  Mr.  Gaylord  organized  the  First  Congre- 
gational Church  in  Omaha  with  nine  charter  niemljers.  This 
was  the  first  church  of  our  order  in  Nebraska,  not  large  in 


FIRST    CONGREGATIONAL    CHURCH, 
OMAHA,    1855 

numbers,  but  strong  in  faith  and  good  works.  A  vigorous 
weekly  prayer  meeting  was  established,  a  flourishing  Sun- 
day school  was  maintained,  woman's  work  in  the  church 
inaugurated,  and  in  due  time  a  new  church  building  erected, 
affording  seats  for  225  persons,  and  costing  $4,500.  ex- 
clusive of  furnishings. 


22 


CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 


The  week  following  the  organization  of  the  church  in 
Omaha  Mr.  Gaylord  organized  a  church  in  Fontanelle, 
where  he  found  quite  a  number  of  Congregationalists  from 
the    First   Church   in   Ouincy,    Illinois.      This   church   had 


FIRST    CONGREGATIONAL    CHURCH,    OMAHA,    I905 

Corner  of  19lh  and  Davenport  Streets.     Rev.  H.  C.  Herring,  D.D., 
pastor.    Erected  in  1888  at  a  cost  of  about  sixty  thousand  dollars 


twenty-three  charter  members,  and  it  was  in  Fontanelle 
that  the  first  educational  work  of  the  denomination  was 
undertaken.  The  settlement  began  in  1854  and  was  named 
for  Logan  Fontenelle,  a  chief  of  the  Omaha  tribe  of  Indians. 


DEVELOPMENT  OF  CHURCH   LIFE 


TEMPERANCE   WORK 


23 


In  the  very  beginning;  we  find  temperance  work  taken  up, 
and  every  effort  made  to  stem  the  tide  of  intemperance 


REV.     ISAAC    E.     HEATON 


which  was  coming  Hke  mighty  billows  upon  the  land.  From 
that  day  on  our  churches  have  ever  taken  a  strong  and  de- 
cided stand  against  intemperance  and  kindred  vices. 


THE  FREMONT  CHURCH 


"In  1856  the  Rev.  Isaac  E.  Heaton  came  with  his  family 
from  Wisconsin  to  Nebraska  and  located  in  Fremont,  then 


Si  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

a  mere  hamlet.  He  came  to  teach,  but  seeing  the  great  need 
of  ministers  he  began  preaching,  and  with  the  few  others 
shared  the  trials  and  experiences  of  pioneer  life  on  the  fron- 


MRS.    ISAAC    E.    HEATON 

tier.     Within  a  few  months  he  succeeded  in  gathering  a 
church."" 

The  Fremont  church  was  organized  August  2,  1857,  with 
seven  charter  members. 

^Gaylord's  Life,  p.  197. 


STATE   ASSOCIATION 


«5 


IV 


THE  STATE  ASSOCIATION  OF  CONGREGATIONAL  CHURCHES 
IN    NEBRASKA 

The  organization  of  the  General  Assoeiation  was  an  im- 
portant event  for  Congregational   Nebraska.      It  occurred 

on  tlie  8th  of  August,  1857. 


REV.    SILAS   J.     FRANCIS 

Three  churches,  Omaha,  Fontanelle,  and  Fremont,  met 
in  Omaha  through  their  representatives  and  perfected  the 
organization.  The  roll  call  as  found  in  the  manuscript 
minutes  is  of  historic  value. 

Omaha :  Rev.  Reuben  Gaylord,  minister ;  O.  B.  Rich- 
ardson (evidently  O.  D.)  and  A.  R.  Orchard,  delegates. 


36 


CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 


Fontanelle:  Rev.  Thomas  Waller,  Rev.  Silas  J.  Francis, 
ministers. 

Fremont :  Rev.  Isaac  E.  Heaton,  minister ;  E.  H.  Bar- 
nard, H.  A.  Pierce,  delegates. 


E.    H.    BARNARD,    FREMONT 


A  constitution  was  adopted,  and  Rev.  Reuben  Gaylord 
was  elected  moderator  and  Rev.  Isaac  E.  Heaton,  stated 
clerk. 

After  appointing  committees  to  notify  the  Congregational 
Herald,  Independent,  and  the  city  papers  of  the  new  state 
association,  the  meeting  adjourned  for  the  day,  and,  the 
next  day  being  Sunday,  "met  and  spent  an  hour  in  devo- 
tional exercises.  Adjourned  to  perform  the  service  of  ded- 
ication   (evidently  of  the  Omaha  Church),   and  the  com- 


STATE  ASSOCIATION  37 

munion  service  in  the  afternoon.  At  the  close  of  the  service 
the  association  adjourned."^ 

October  30  of  the  same  year  the  association  met  in  Fre- 
mont in  its  ''first  annual  meeting." 

Mr.  Gaylord  was  again  elected  moderator  and  I.  Gibson 
stated  clerk,  pro  tem.  A  strongly  evangelical  confession 
of  faith  was  adopted,  rules  of  business  were  formulated, 
and  a  committee  of  three  w^as  appointed  to  "take  into  con- 
sideration the  location  of  the  literary  institution"  provided 
for  in  a  preceding  resolution. 

Mr.  Gaylord  and  P.  jVllen  of  Ft.  Callioun  were  two  of 
the  committee,  and  Air.  Gaylord  was  authorized  to  select 
the  third  member  in  Omaha. - 

A  special  meeting  of  the  association  w^as  held  in  Fonta- 
nelle,  January  5,  1858,  to  consider  the  report  of  this  com- 
mittee, which  will  be  considered  in  another  place. 

At  this  time  special  meetings  of  the  association  w'ere  not 
unusual,  and  semi-annual  meetings  were  held  for  a  number 
of  years.  The  next  annual  meeting  was  at  Ft.  Calhoun, 
October  i,  1858.  Rev.  I.  E.  Heaton  was  chosen  moderator, 
Rev.  E.  B.  Hurlbut  is  subscribed  as  stated  clerk,  and  the 
roll  of  churches  is  increased  so  as  to  include  Omaha,  Fre- 
mont, Fontanelle,  Platford,  Decatur,  and  Ft.  Calhoun.'' 
Congregational  Nebraska  is  becoming  already  an  important 
factor  in  the  development  of  a  state.  The  State  Association 
of  Congregational  Churches  is  already  considering  ques- 
tions of  grave  importance  in  the  development  of  church  life 
and  educational  work. 


^Manuscript  Minutes,  August  8,  1857. 
'See  Manuscript  Minutes,  October  30,  1857. 
*  Manuscript  Minutes,  October  1,  1858. 


28 


CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 


V 


SOME    DISCOURAGEMENTS 


It  was  not  all  fair  sailing  for  the  pioneer  churches  of  Ne- 
braska. The  discovery  of  gold  in  the  Rocky  mountains 
almost   led   to   the   depopulation   of   hamlets   and   seriously 


SITE    OF     NEBRASKA    UNIVERSITY,     FONTANELLE, 
Photo,  by  M.  K.  Gilniore 


1905 


affected  the  growth  of  churches.  Bank  failures  crippled 
the  work:  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  war  distracted  the 
people,  the  grasshoppers  destroyed  crops ;  the  Indians  at 
times  were  troublesome ;  and  when  in  later  days  railroads 
were  projected,  the  routes  passed  by  some  towns  to  their 
great  disappointment  and  eventual  death,  while  other  towns 
and  churches  sprang  up  in  unexpected  places. 

This  in  part  explains  the  loss  of  some  churches  like  Fon- 
tanelle,  whose  early  history  was  bright ;  whose  subsequent 


SOME  DISCOURAGEMENTS  29 

disappointments  were  many ;  Fremont  secured  the  county 
scat,  and  its  name  appears  in  another  county ;  Lincohi  was 
awarded  its  hoped-for  capitol ;  Crete  its  college ;  and  the 
open  fields  its  once  ambitious  town.  The  loss  of  other 
churches  was  due  to  a  lack  of  men  and  means  at  the  criti- 
cal times  in  their  development.  The  Home  Missionary 
Society  cither  lacked  the  foresight  or  the  money  to  come 
to  their  rescue.  Strategic  points  of  strength  and  oppor- 
tunity were  lost  beyond  recall. 

Some  of  these  churches  were  turned  over  to  the  Presby- 
terians, because  w^e  had  not  the  men  and  money  to  man 
them.  This  loss  was  keenly  felt  and  called  forth  l)itter 
lament  on  the  part  of  Mr.  Gaylord.^ 

His  work  was  constantly  growing.  He  was  acting  as 
superintendent  of  Nebraska  long  before  he  gave  up  the 
pastorate  in  Omaha  for  the  general  work  of  Home  Mission- 
ary Superintendent  in  the  state. 

Churches  were  growing,  new  ones  were  being  organized, 
and  the  pioneers  of  Nebraska  met  discouragement  with 
brave  hearts  and  faced  the  future  with  hope. 


'Gaylord's  Life,  pp.  211  ff. 


30  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

VI 

EAP.LY   DECLARATIONS 

Congregationalists  in  Nebraska  were  keenly  alive  to  the 
stirring  events  of  the  times.  At  the  May  meeting,  i860,  we 
find  a  resolution  urging  the  A.  H.  M.  S.  to  send  "ministers 
and  the  Gospel"  to  the  people  in  the  gold  fields  of  the 
West. 

Home  evangelization  received  considerable  attention  in 
1862.  At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  association  held  in 
Nebraska  City,  October,  1864,  we  find  this  report  from  the 
Committee  on  "The  State  of  the  Country" : 

"Resolved,  ist,  That  the  only  way  to  secure  for  this  gov- 
ernment true  and  permanent  peace  and  prosperity  is  to 
prosecute  this  war  to  the  complete  suppression  of  the 
Rebellion. 

"2d,  That  the  earnest  efforts  of  the  government  to  this 
end  meet  our  decided  approbation. 

"3d,  That  we  thankfully  recognize  the  gracious  provi- 
dence of  God  in  the  recent  victories  that  have  so  thrilled 
every  loyal  heart." 

A  year  later,  September,  1865,  the  committee,  consisting 
of  Rev.  Reuben  Gaylord,  Rev.  Isaac  E.  Heaton,  and  Deacon 
J.  J.  Hawthorn,  reported  as  follows: 

"Resolved,  ist,  That  we  gratefully  acknowledge  the 
kind  providence  of  God  in  the  final  victory  obtained  over 
the  armed  forces  of  the  Rebellion. 

"2d,  That  we  shall  fully  secure  the  legitimate  results  of 
this  great  struggle  only  by  administering  equal  justice  and 
giving  the  rights  of  citizenship  to  those  who  have  been 


EARLY  DECLARATIONS  31 

lifted   out  of   bondage,   and   inliicting   suitable   punishment 
upon  the  leaders  of  the  late  Confederacy." 

Again  in  1866,  at  the  annual  meeting  held  in  Fontanelle, 
the  Committee  on  the  State  of  the  Country,  consisting  of 
Rev.  F.  Alley,  Rev.  E.  P..  Hurlbut,  and  Bro.  G.  Gaylord, 
made  the  following  stirring  report: 

"Whereas,  Our  country  is  now  in  a  very  disturbed  state, 
lawlessness  and  bloodshed  deplorably  increasing,  and 

"Whereas,  The  unreasonable  prejudice  against  and  op- 
pression of  the  colored  race  are  hindrances  to  our  peace 
and  the  progress  of  civilization  among  us,  therefore 

"Resolved,  That  we  deeply  regret  the  present  unhappy 
disagreement  between  the  legislative  and  executive  depart- 
ments of  our  government. 

■'Resolved,  That  in  impartial  suffrage  and  impartial 
justice  to  all  classes  we  recognize  the  only  permanent  basis 
of  the  peace  and  prosperity  of  this  nation. 

"Resolved,  That  we  regard  the  course  of  the  President 
of  these  United  States  in  his  general  policy,  and  especially 
in  his  late  speeches,  as  opposed  to  the  peace  and  prosperity 
of  this  nation,  and  derogatory  to  the  dignity  of  the  high 
position  in  wdiich  he  has  been  placed."^ 

In  expressing  itself  on  local  conditions  in  1865  the  asso- 
ciation put  itself  on  record  as  follows: 

"New  fields  are  opening  and  demanding  culture,  and 
laborers  are  needed  to  go  in  and  possess  the  land.  A  large 
increase  of  material  prosperity  has  characterized  this  year, 
and  we  enter  upon  the  year  before  us  with  new  encourage- 
ments and  hope.  While  we  rejoice  that  so  much  has  been 
done,  we  feel  humbled  that  no  more  has  been  accomplished, 
and  desire  humbly  to  beseech  a  larger  measure  of  divine 
influence  and  a  higher  spirituality." 

^Manuscript  Minutes  for  years  noted. 


32  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

A  declaration  on  temperance  in  the  same  year  is  of 
interest : 

"In  view  of  the  alarming  prevalence  of  intemperance  in 
our  land,  and  especially  among  the  newly  settled  portions 
of  our  country, 


^'«sc 

%:■' 

■■    _M.. 

*'.■- , 

v-,;';:-*;;-     -■ 

•  ■•■':>  ; 

t        ■';' 

'■ 

, 

-■-v'.. 

■■'■^d.x 

:-.i.i<l'.-U--  *f. 

y.uM 

■¥^- 

BELLEVUE,  NEBRASKA,  1 856 

No.   1   (near  center),  old  home  of  Peter 'A.  Sarpy;  No.  3   (in  fore- 
ground), Sarpy's  new  home;   No.  3,   Indian  mission;   hill 
on  extreme  right,  present  site  of  Bellevue  College. 

"Resolved,  That  the  Association  of  Nebraska  hereby 
declare, 

"I.  That  the  chief  instrumentality  upon  which  temper- 
ance men  must  rely  in  their  struggle  to  put  down  the  great 
evil  is  the  education  of  the  people  to  the  appreciation  of  the 
evils  and  dangers  of  intemperance. 

"IT.  That  solemn  obligation  is  laid  upon  the  church  to 
take  a  foremost  part  in  the  work,  and  that  all  Christian 
men  and  ministers  must  let  their  influence  be  felt  decidedly 
against  this  evil. 


EARLY    DIA  r.ARAI'IOXS  33 

"Jll.  J'lial  llic  ou\y  platform  on  which  this  strujj^i;!^  can 
be  carried  to  a  decided  issue  in  our  country  is  total  ab- 
stinence from  all  intoxicating"  drinks. 

''IV.  That  we  decidedly  disapprove  of  die  use  of  beer, 
ale,  and  all  malt  licjuors  or  domestic  wineS;  whether  manu- 
factured from  g-rapes,  currants,  or  any  other  fruit,  except 
for  medicinal  purposes. "- 

In  1868  the  asst)ciation  sa}s  that: 

"The  use  of  intoxicating  licpiors  as  a  beverage,  and  the 
]M-esent  popular  uses  of  tobacco,  are  spots  upon  the  Chris- 
tian character,  examples  pernicious  to  society  and  the 
Church  of  Christ ;  that  they  greatly  impair  personal  use- 
fulness, aufl  are  to  be  discountenanced  and  avoided  by 
every  professed  follower  of  Jesus.  That  extravagance  and 
intemperate  habits  in  any  sphere  whatever  arc  opposed  to 
the  spirit  of  the  Cospel,  consequently  wrong,  and  the  money 
thus  expended  ought  to  be  consecrated  to  the  service  of 
Christ's  cause. "^ 

It  will  tlius  l)c  seen  that  otu^  Church  fathers  were  prompt 
in  faking  advanced  ])ositions  on  all  great  moral  questions 
in  Church  and  state,  not  forgetting  that  they  were  citizens 
as  well  as  Christians. 


'Manuscript  Minutes,  1S65. 
'Printed  Minutes,  1868,  pp.  7,  8. 
3 


34-  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

VII 

A    NEW    ERA   IN    CHURCH    DEVELOPMENT 

The  advent  of  railroads,  in  a  new  country  especially, 
means  a  revival  of  industry,  the  building  of  towns,  the 
settlement  of  the  country,  and  a  larger  opportunity  for 
church  extension. 

The  Union  Pacific,  Burlington  &  ^Missouri  river,  Mis- 
souri Pacific,  Chicago,  Rock  Island  &  Pacific,  and  Chicago  & 
North-Western  railroads  have  covered  the  state  with  a  net- 
work of  iron  rails.  Their  lines  extend  not  only  across  the 
state  as  part  of  great  trunk  systems,  but  the  Burlington 
especially  has  established  lines  all  over  the  state  with  the 
capital  city  as  a  center,  and  has  brought  remote  regions 
into  easy  communication  with  the  great  centers  of  trade, 
Omaha  and  Lincoln.  The  Missouri  Pacific  has  developed 
a  part  of  the  richest  portion  of  the  state.  The  Rock  Island 
railroad  crosses  a  rich  portion  of  the  state.  The  North- 
Western  extends  up  the  Elkhorn  valley  and  on  into  the 
northwest.  These  roads,  built  for  the  commercial  develop- 
ment of  the  country  and  as  money  getters  for  the  com- 
panies controlling  them,  stand  also  in  close  relation  to  the 
growth  of  the  kingdom  of  God  in  the  state. 

VsHiat  would  become  of  the  cattle  industry  in  the  sand- 
hills and  the  mission  churches  established  therein  without 
the  Burlington  railroad?  The  beautiful  Elkhorn  valley 
and  the  regions  beyond  would  not  be  nearly  so  attractive 
without  the  North-Western  railroad,  and  two  at  least  of 
our  Christian  schools  would  cease  to  be.  The  Union  Pacific 
has  miade  the  Platte  valley  a  rich  part  of  the  state.  What- 
ever else  they  may  be,  these  roads  are  the  agents  of  the 


A  N):\v  KKA  ]\  ciHkcii  i)i-:vi:ic)PM i:nt  35 

dm  relics  in  the  dcvolopnicnt  of  new  life.  It  meant  much 
then  to  Congregational  Nebraska,  and  especially  to  Omaha, 
when  in  November,  1863,  President  Lincoln  designated 
(.)ma!)a  as  the  location  for  the  entrance  of  the  Union  Pa- 
cific railroad  into  the  state. 

The  announcement  of  this  was  received  in  (  )maha  by 
telegra])h  the  second  day  of  December,  and  the  grading 
of  the  road  in  eastern  Nebraska  began  in  the  spring  of 
1864.^  Towns  sprang  up;  churches  were  multiplied;  new 
fields  called  loudly  for  more  attention  than  could  possil)ly 
be  given  by  one  or  several  men  who  had  pastoral  charges. 
It  was  a  situation  very  similar  to  the  more  recent  one  in 
Oklahoma.  The  King's  business  required  haste;  we  needed 
missiojiaries  to  '"ride  on  the  cow-catchers,"  and  get  in  a 
town  ahead  of  the  saloon,  and  there  nnist  be  some  man  to 
look  nfter  the  work.  Who  should  do  it?  There  was  one 
man  so  well  qualified  with  native  endowment  and  b\'  ex- 
]:>erience  for  this  general  work  that  no  one  else  was  thought 
of.     This  man  was  Reuben  Ciavlord. 


'Gaylord's  Life,  pp.  25S  fif. 


36 


CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 


YIII 

GAYI.ORD    AS    HOME    MISSIONARY    SUPERINTENDENT 

The   state   superintendent   was   then   called   "the   agent," 
and  Mr.  Gavlord's  field  was  Nebraska  and  western  Iowa. 


[ 

^•-^^ 

ii:*^«BHli 

/••# 

Jl 

ite  ^« 

t 

''•/• 

A 

^  ii 

f 

/ 

1 

^ 

^ 

' 

^ 

9 

^ 

T>^ 

WM 

Ri:\'.   A.   F.  SlIERRILL,  D.D, 

He,  however,  ministered  to  the  First  Church  in  Omaha  till 
the  middle  of  November,  when  Rev.  A.  D.  Stowell  as- 
sumed the   pastorate,   which   he   held   only   a   few   months. 


GAYI.OKD    AS     HOME     MISSIONARY    SUPERINTENDENT       37 

when  he  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  W.  W.  Rose,  wlio  remained 
two  years.  Rev.  K.  S.  Pahncr  then  served  the  church  two 
years,  and  after  a  few  months'  interval  Rev.  A.  F.  Sherrill 
began  his  long  and  successful  pastorate,  which  left  its  im- 
press for  i^ood  on  the  city  and  state.  He  was  ordained  in 
Omaha  in  1870  and  remained  with  llie  church  ei.t;hleen 
years. 

It  was  in  18(17  '^^  the  \\'eeping-  \\'ater  nK't'ling-  that  the 
Secretary  of  Ihe  A.  H.  M.  Society.  Rev.  Dr.  A.  II.  Clapp, 
visited  the  association  and  greatly  encouraged  the  brethren. 
The  association  said :  "We  have  been  greatly  interested, 
cheered,  and  encouraged  by  the  attendance  with  us  at  our 
associational  meeting  of  one  of  the  secretaries  of  the  A. 
H.  M.  Society,  Rev.  A.  H.  Clapp.  This,  the  first  visit  of 
the  kind  we  have  ever  received,  a  visit  that  we  expect  to 
be  productive  of  great  good  to  the  general  cause  of  home 
missions  in  the  new  state  of  Nebraska.""' 

In  this  ])erio(l  of  our  work  the  churclies  w^ere  feeling 
the  need  of  larger  evangelizing  forces  within  the  state.  The 
work  of  the  American  S.  S.  Union  in  part  produced  this 
need,  for  the  statement  is  made  that  "in  Nebraska  and 
southwestern  Iowa  more  than  two  hundred  and  fifty  Sab- 
bath schools  were  organized,  comprising  over  thirteen 
hundred  teachers  and  more  than  nine  tliousand  scholars. "- 

Other  denominations  were  active,  but  in  the  rapidly  grow- 
ing state  there  was  work  for  all.  The  demand  for  w^orkers 
exceeded  the  supply.  We  could  not  ignore  our  responsi- 
bility. We  bravely  tried  to  meet  it,  a  responsibility  not 
only  for  the  incoming  settlers  and  their  families  but  for 
the  Indians  of  the  plains  as  well.  We  inlierited  the  mis- 
sionarv  spirit  wliich  luoved  our  fathers  to  nol)le  deeds  in 
behalf  of  others. 

'  Printcfl    jMinntcs,    1807,  pp.   0,    10. 
=  Minutes,  ISGS,  p.  0. 


38  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

111  1869  the  State  Association  met  in  P'reniont,  and  Rev. 
Charles  Little,  first  pastor  of  the  First  Congregational 
Church  of  Lincoln,  was  the  moderator.  This  meeting  is 
noteworthy  because  of  two  strong  appeals  in  behalf  of  the 
Indians  within  the  state.  One  is  to  President  U.  S.  Grant; 
the  other  to  the  American  Board. 

The  memorial  to  the  President,  though  long,  is  of  such 
historic  interest  that  we  reproduce  it.  It  is  another  illustra- 
tion of  the  fact- that  Nebraska  Congregationalists  were  men 
of  patriotism,  strong  convictions,  and  courage. 

"To  His  Excellency,  Ulysses  S.  Grani,  President  of  flic 
United  States: 

"The  General  Association  of  the  Congregational  Churches 
of  Nebraska,  now  in  session  at  Fremont,  Dodge  county, 
Nebraska,  send  greeting. 

"Honored  Sir — Believing  that  you  are  heartily  interested 
in  the  temporal  and  spiritual  interests  of  Indians ;  as  a  re- 
ligious body  in  the  immediate  presence  of  these  Indians, 
Vv'e  venture,  unasked,  to  make  to  you  a  few  suggestions,  as 
to  what, — from  our  standpoint,-^seems  a  practicable,  just, 
and  Christian  method  of  dealing  with  them.  You  are 
doubtless  aware  that  a  strong  political  pressure  is  now 
being  exerted  to  remove  the  Indians  from  our  state,  and 
plant  them  on  lands  further  removed  from  white  settle- 
ments ;  and  to  this  end  strong  arguments  are  found  in  the 
following  facts : 

"ist,  The  Indian  reserves  in  Nebraska  are  now  nearly 
surrounded  by  white  settlers. 

"2(1,  These  reserves  embrace  some  of  the  best  lands  in 
the  state,  and  their  opening  for  the  settlement  by  whites 
would  add  somewhat  to  its  wealth,  population,  and  pros- 
perity. 

"3d,  The  Indians  are  unpleasant  neighbors  even  when 
at  peace. 


GAYLORD    AS     IIOMK     MISSIONARY    SUPERINTENDENT       39 

"4II1,  Their  national  fciuls  arc  continually  provcjkin};" 
bloody  conllicts  anions;-  themselves,  even  in  the  case  of  those 
Indians  who  are  located  on  reserves,  and  in  these  quarrels 
the  rii^hts  of  adjacent  white  settlers  are  often  too  little 
respected. 

"5th,  The  i)roximity  of  the  reserve  Indians  to  the  white 
settlements  gives  a  plausible  excuse  to  the  wild  Indians 
of  the  plains  to  come  within  a  striking  distance  of  white 
settlers,  thus  ])roducing  ct)ntinually  a  feeling  of  distrust 
and  danger,  which  is  very  prejudicial  to  the  rapid  increase 
of  population  through  immigration. 

"While  these  facts  above  stated  are  indisputable,  we 
would  recjuest  your  careful  consideration  of  the  following 
statements,  which  we  believe  to  be  e(|uall}'  true  and  indis- 
putable : 

"ist.  The  reasons  above  given  for  the  removal  of  the' 
Indians  are  all  the  natural  results  of  the  heathen  character 
and  customs  of  these  imcivilized  peoples,  aggravated  largely 
by  the  vices  contracted  and  exasperations  received  at  the 
hands  of  unprincipled  white  men. 

"2d,  The  vices  contracted  and  exasperations  received 
have  been  so  productive  of  fatal  results,  because  thus  far 
the  motives  which  have  prompted  intercourse  between  the 
whites  and  Indians  have  been  so  largely  of  a  mercenary 
and  vile  character;  and  because  the  extreme  border  settle- 
ments are  not  often  a  fair  representation  of  the  words  or 
manners  of  our  professedly  Christian  nation. 

"3d,  If  these  Indians  are  now  removed  for  reasons  given 
above,  it  will  be  but  a  short  time  before  advancing  immigra- 
tion will  again  bring  about  the  same  state  of  affairs,  and 
with  eqtial  force  call  for  another  removal. 

"4th,  It  is  manifest  that  might  does  not  make  right  in 
our  dealing  with  the  Indians  any  more  than  with  any  other 
people ;  and  as  a  powerful   Christian  nation,   while  giving 


Dr.  Geo.  L.  Miller 
Deacon  Geo.  T.  Lee 


Hon.  H.  H.  Shedd 
Deacon  Geo.  S.  Harris 


SOME  PROMINENT   LAYMEN 


GAYLORD    AS     lIOMli     MISSIOXARY     SU1'I:RI.\TI:XI)I:NT       4I 

ihcni  every  just  due.  we  slmuld  also  manifest  such  a  spirit 
of  triie  benevolence  as  to  lift  lliein  up  to  a  Christian  civili- 
zation. 

"5th.  ]t  is  a  fact  that  the  present  position  of  these 
Indians  is  becomiiii;'  every  day  more  favorable  for  their 
e\ani;e]ization  and  civilization;  and  that  tliis  work  is  al- 
ready beiui^-  prosi'cuLed  with  some  success  anion^-  the  ( )nia- 
has,  the   Pawnees,  and  some  bands  of  the  Sioux. 

"dill.  Jt  seems  possible  to  obviate  almost  entirely  the 
(liFnculties,  certainly  all  the  dangers,  already  spoken  of, 
which  by  sfriiigciit  hnus  keeping  them  on  their  reserves, 
forbidding  all  ivarlike  and  tJiiez'ing  demonstrations  by  one 
tribe  on  another,  and  by  the  oecnpation  of  the  eonntr\  bv 
sneJi  posts  of  caz'alry  as  shall  form  an  el'fieient  proteetion 
from  all  einl  disposed  persons. 

"In  consideration  of  these  things  w'c  ask  Your  Kxcel- 
lenc\-  to  pass  by  all  arguments  for  the  removal  of  these 
unfortimate  people,  based  on  selfish,  territorial,  financial, 
or  political  reasons. 

"We  believe  that  the  new  system  which  Your  Excellency 
has  recently  inaugurated  will  succeed,  if  it  be  supported 
by  a  military  arm  sufficient  to  awe  down  the  dissatisfied 
and  lawless,  and  ;'/  the  poliey  be  held  without  waz'ering 
for  a  time  sniTieient  to  show  the  reasonable  results. 

"To  this  end  we  pledge  ourselves  as  a  religious  body  to 
cooperate,  so  far  as  we  can,  in  every  effort  for  the  evangeli- 
zation and  civilization  of  these  Indians. 

"Praying  that  the  Lord  would  guide  Your  Excellency 
to  adopt  and  execute  the  best  plans  for  the  welfare  of  all 
races  found  within  the  borders  of  our  nation ;  and  that  He 
will  keep  }-ou  and  strengthen  you  to  acomplish  all  His  holy 
will,  with  great  joy  to  yourself,  and  a  full  assurance  of 
everlasting  life;  we  have  the  honor  to  remain. 


42 


CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 


"Your  true  friends  and  staunch  supporters.     In  behalf 
le  Gener 
Signed] 


of  the  General  Congregational  Association  of  Nebraska. 


J.  B.  Chase,  Jr., 
"Charles  Little, 
"J.  J-  Hawthorn, 

"Comviiffcc." 


SIOUX    CHIEF   SPOTTED  TAIL 

This  same  committee,  authorized  by  the  association,  sent 
a  most  earnest  appeal  to  the  American  Board  for  mission- 
aries to  the  Indians,  especially  the  Pawnees  in  eastern  Ne- 
braska.^ 

'Minutes  of  1869,  pp.   G-10. 


GAVLORD    AS     HOMK     MISSIONARY    SUPERINTENDENT      43 

In  lliis  appeal  to  llie  American  J'.oard  the  committee 
speaks  of  the  I'awnccs  as  Ijcinj;-  on  their  reservation  withni 
seventy  miles  of  Fremont  to  the  number  of  twenty-five 
hnmlretl,  and  tliat  one  of  their  number  had  recently  been 
on  llie  reservation.  Mr.  Albert  W'atkins  in  the  article  on 
Nebraska  in  the  Encyclopedia  .Americana  says  that  the 
Pawnees  ceded  all  their  lands  south  of  the  Platte  river  in 
1833,  and  the  rest  of  their  possessions  ntjrth  of  the  Platte 
in  1S57.  It  is,  however,  evident  from  the  minutes  of  the 
association  that  the  Pawnees  were  in  1869  on  a  small 
reservation,  a  part  of  the  larger  one  north  of  the  Platte. 
They  were  removed  to  the  Indian  Territory  in  1876. 

There  is  one  Indian  reservation  in  the  northeastern  part 
of  the  state  occujMed  by  the  Omahas,  1200  in  number,  and 
the  W'innebag'os,  iioo  in  number.  The  lands  of  the  reser- 
vation hiwe  been  allotted  to  the  Indians  in  severaltv,  and 
they  are  all  citizens  of  the  state.*  There  is  also  the  Santee 
agency. 

It  would  be  interesting  to  know  how  the  memorial  to 
President  ( Jrant  was  received,  but  we  have  failed  to  find 
anything  bearing  on  the  matter  beyond  what  is  here  stated. 
Nebraska  Congregationalists,  however,  made  very  plain 
///('/;-  position  in  this  whole  matter,  and  stood  manfully  for 
the  protection  of  the  weaker  race,  true  to  the  historic  si)irit 
of  the  denomination. 


^Article  '"Nebraska,"  Encyclopedia  Americana. 


46  CONGREGATIONAL   NKl'.RASKA 

IX 

REMO\AL   OF   THE    CAPITAL 

The  removal  of  the  capital*  to  Lincoln  in  1868  (the  en- 
abling act  was  June  14,  1867)  turned  the  tide  of  immigra- 
tion to  that  part  of  the  state,  and  Superintendent  Gaylord, 
whose  hard  work  began  to  tell  upon  his  health,  found  the  de- 
mands upon  his  strength  were  increasing  with  each  year. 
The  opportunity  for  establishing  churches  in  southern  Ne- 
braska was  increasing  each  year.  The  Union  Pacific  railroad 
was  extending  its  line  westward  up  the  Platte  valley,  and 
settlers  were  following  in  its  track.  The  Burlington  railroad 
was  planning  to  cross  the  state,  thus  making  the  new 
capital  city  easy  of  access,  and  in  time  a  railroad,  as  well 
as  political  and  educational  center.  Southern  Nebraska 
in  prophecy  and  in  reality  was  calling  loudly  for  mission- 
aries and  churches. 

In  Omaha  and  surrounding  covmtry  the  work  was  in- 
creasing rapidly.  j\Ir.  Gaylord  in  1868  reports  to  the  na- 
tional society :  "The  past  year  has  been  one  of  constant  and 
increasing  activity  in  respect  to  all  material  interests.  Our 
great  railroad  (the  Union  Pacific)  is  extending  its  iron 
arms  toward  the  Pacific,  and  even  now  is  reaching  to  em- 
brace the  mountains  with  their  hidden  treasures,  which 
are  soon  to  be  laid  at  the  feet  of  the  nation.  The  popula- 
tion is  increasing ;  capitalists  are  constructing  railways ; 
farms  are  brought  under  cultivation ;  towns  and  cities  are 
springing  up ;  and  nov;  is  the  time  to  lay  the  foundations  of 
Gospel  institutions  for  future  generations.  We  7nust  repeat 
here  the  experience  and  policy  of  the  early  settlers  of  New 
England,  if  we  would  see  a  prosperous  and  glorious  future. 


KKMOVAT.    OF    Til  I'.    (  AlM'l  Al,  47 

Along  the  whole  river  front  of  this  new  and  rapidly  de- 
Yelopins'  ^tate  your  soeiety  has  hut  two  missionaries.  W'c 
need  a  large  reinforcement  of  lahorers  without  delay. 
Situated  as  we  are,  in  the  very  heart  of  the  continent,  on 
the  great  highway  of  nations,  destined  to  become  the  chief 
source  of  supply  to  the  mountain  territories,  how  impor- 
tant it  is  that  this  valley  should  he  thoroughly  evangelized, 
not  only  for  its  own  sake  but  for  the  regions  beyond."^ 

If  our  National  Society  could  only  have  sent  the  needed 
men  and  money  into  Nebraska  at  that  time,  and  stood  by  the 
work  through  that  period  of  foundation  laying,  our  con- 
stituency would  be  vastly  larger  than  it  is  to-day.  Much 
was  indeed  done,  but  eastern  men  did  not  have  the  large 
vision  of  opportunity  for  church  extension  which  the  men 
on  the  frontier  had,  and  when  the  vision  did  come  other 
denominations  had  seized  the  opportunity.  r)Ut  our  men 
on  the  field  were  active  and  the  work  was  constantly  grow- 
ing. There  is  still  a  great  opportunity  in  Nebraska.  We 
need  more  men  and  money  to  develop  our  work. 

April  6,  1896,  Mr.  Gaylord  alludes  to  the  coming  resig- 
nation of  Rev.  I.  E.  Heaton,  the  second  Congregational 
pastor  in  Nebraska,  and  says,  "This  church  |  Fremont] 
furnishes  a  beautiful  illustration  of  the  fruits  of  patient, 
persevering  labor  in  planting  and  watering  the  institutions 
of  the  Gospel  on  new  ground."-  The  Fremont  church  is 
to-day  one  of  the  strong  churches  in  the  state  and  has  been 
fortunate  in  the  able  men  chosen  for  ]>astors.  The  list  in- 
cludes Rev.  I.  E.  Heaton,  Rev.  J.  B.  Chase,  Rev.  Rosewell 
Foster,  Rev.  George  Porter,  Rev.  Albert  T.  Swing,  Rev. 
Loren  F.  Eerry,  Rev.  William  H.  Buss,  and  the  present 
pastor,  Rev.  John  Doane. 


'Gaylord's  Life,  p.  29'). 
'Gaylord's  Life,  p.  296. 


48  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 


X 

REV.   O.    W.    MERRILL,    SUPERINTENDENT 

Mr.  Gaylord  resigned  the  superintendency  of  home  mis- 
sions in  Nebraska,  March,  1870,  and  Rev.  O.  W.  Merrill 
of  Anamosa,  Iowa,  was  appointed  in  his  place.  In  his  letter 
of  resignation,  Mr.  Gaylord  says.:  "As  I  now  lay  down  my 
work,  I  look  ont  upon  a  goodly  family  of  churches,  eigh- 
teen in  number,  the  way  to  organize  others  preparing,  and 
Gospel  influences  extending  more  rapidly  than  ever  be- 
fore. .  .  .  There  remaineth  yet  much  land  to  be  pos- 
sessed, and  in  view  of  the  present  outlook  of  this  frontier 
field,  I  earnestly  hope  that  the  resources  of  the  society  will 
enable  it  to  enter  and  occupy  the  new  openings  for  the 
Gospel  that  are  constantly  coming  to  our  knowledge."^ 

As  Mr.  Merrill  could  not  enter  upon  his  work  imme- 
diately, Mr.  Gaylord  continued  to  act  for  some  time  longer, 
and  afterward  took  a  trip  to  the  Rocky  mountain  region  in 
the  interests  of  home  missions.  He  later  served  the  church 
at  Fontanelle  for  a  time,  and  finished  his  work  in  the  state 
whose  foundations  for  a  great  commonwealth  he  had  helped 
to  lay.  He  was  a  sturdy,  active,  wise,'  and  consecrated 
man.  Congregational  Nebraska  owes  much  to  "Father 
Gaylord,"  his  devoted  wife,  and  their  noble  and  heroic 
work  in  the  state. 

The  State  Association  in  its  annual  meeting  1870  passed 
the  following  resolution  : 

"That  this  association  tender  to  Rev.  R.  Gaylord  our 
gratitude  for  all  the  wisdom  of  counsel  and  efifective  aid  he 
has   rendered  to  the  ministers  and   churches  of  our  order 

iGaylord's  Life,  p.  303. 


REV.    O.    W.    MEKRIi.L 
Second   State  Superintendent  of  Home  Missions 


50  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

as  agent  of  the  A.  H.  M.  Society,  and  we  pray  the  Great 
Head  of  the  church  to  bless  and  direct  him  in  the  future 
in  the  paths  of  usefuhiess  and  pleasantness. "- 

THE  PKAYER-MEETING 

This  same  association  of  1870  gave  expression  to  the 
views  of  the  churches  on  one  of  the  most  practical  and 
helpful  institutions  of  the  church — the  prayer-meeting : 

"Resolved,  That  we  deem  the  prayer-meeting  of  the 
highest  importance  to  the  Christian  church ;  that  we  deem 
it  very  desirable  to  have  all  the  members  of  the  church  take 
])art  in  the  meeting,  be  they  old  or  young,  male  or  female, 
and  that  all  professing  Christians  should  come  from  their 
closets  to  the  meetings,  and  that  they  should  have  special 
subjects  for  prayer."^ 

It  also  declared : 

"That  the  Pilgrim's  idea  and  practice,  religiously  based 
and  built  upon  the  great  doctrine  of  justification  by  faith, 
and  governmentally  upon  the  free,  equal,  and  inalienable 
rights  of  all  men  before  God  and  among  themselves,  de- 
serve and  should  receive  the  warmest  gratitude  to  God 
from  all  their  natural  and  spiritual  descendants,  and  the 
most  earnest  and  whole-hearted  extension."''* 

These  expressions  show  the  trend  of  thought  in  the  form- 
ative period  of  our  church  life,  and  illustrate  the  sound 
evangelical  position  of  Congregationalism  in  the  state. 
The  Narrative  on  the  State  of  Religion  in '  the  Churches, 
which  was  a  special  feature  of  the  early  meetings  of  the 
association,  show"s  that  there  had  been  precious  revivals  dur- 
ing the  year,  and  several  new  churches  added  to  the  list. 

'Minutes,  1870,  p.  7. 
'Minutes,  1870,  p.  8. 
'Minutes,  1873,  p.  9, 


REV.   O.    W.    MERRIF.I,,    SUl'KRI  NTENDENT 


51 


There  were  then  twenty-three  Congregational  elmrches  in 
the  state. 

In    1871    the  association   met   for  the  first  time   in   Lin- 
coln,   and    Rev.    Amos    Dresser    was    chosen    moderator. 


REV.    AMOS   DRESSER 
Better  known  as  "Father  Dresser" 


"Father"  Dresser  was  a  man  who  threw  his  w'hole  life  into 
the  home  missionary  work  of  the  state.  He  was  a  veritable 
circuit-rider,  worked  largely  in  rural  fields,  was  beloved 
by  all  the  churches,  and  filled  a  large  place  in  the  work 


52  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

of  the  State.  Rev.  A.  F.  Sherrill,  D.D.,  writes  of  Father 
Dresser :'" 

''He  was  pretty  near  to  pure  stuff.  I  never  rode  with 
him  ov^er  the  prairies  to  his  appointments  without  profit. 
Fie  kept  up  his  studies  and  thinking  as  long  as  I  knew  him. 
With  a  very  tender  and  solicitous  heart  always  for  the 
people  in  his  parish.  He  used  to  own  Butler  county,  as  to 
religion." 

At  the  time  of  the  Lincoln  meeting — 1871 — thirty-two 
churches  were  represented.  Among  these  was  Crete,  des- 
tined to  become  allied  with  the  Congregational  educational 
center,  and  a  church  of  commanding  influence.  There  were 
then  only  two  churches,  Omaha  and  Fremont,  that  were  self- 
supporting.  The  history  of  the  churches  is  largely  the 
history  of  home  missions  in  the  state.  In  his  annual  report 
Superintendent  Merrill  made  a  plea  for  the  missionary 
spirit,  and  uttered  these  significant  words : 

"We  are  laying  the  foundations  of  churches  and  of  a 
work  tliat  is  to  be  among  and  for  millions,  instead  of 
thousands,  and  these  foundations  must  not  be  laitl  in  'un- 
tempered  mortar.'  Permeating  our  work  must  be  a  F.ible- 
instructed  conscience,  and  outgrowing  in  our  lives  must 
1)e  a  deep  sympathy  with  that  redemption  which  Christ 
brought  to  our  world.  We  can  not  afford  to  be  narrow 
in  our  views  of  our  duty,  or  to  isolate  ourselves  from  the 
great  world-wide  v.'ork  of  Christ  through  our  great  so- 
cieties.''*"' 

Reviewing  the  work  from  the  beginning  Mr.  Merrill 
alluded  to  the  fact  that  forty  men  had  labored  in  the  state, 
nineteen  of  whom  were  then  in  active  service,  and  five 
were  still  residing  in  the  state  but  not  in  regular  service. 
This  vear  and  the  next  were  especially  noted  for  the  dis- 

'  Letter,  August  10,  1904. 
'Minutes,  1871,  p.  8. 


UEV,   0.    W.    MF.RRILL,    SUPEKINTEXDENT  53 

cussion  and  final  action  on  the  location  of  the  Congrega- 
tional colloge.  The  growth  of  Congregational  churches 
in  southeastern  Nebraska  was  a  large  factor  in  that  issue. 

Before  another  year  had  rolled  by  we  find  Superintend- 
ent O.  \\\  Merrill  prostrated  with  sickness  and  unable  to 
continue  his  work. 

Rev.  j.  ij.  Chase  assumed  temporarily  a  part  of  the  bur- 
den and  made  the  report  for  1873.  From  this  report  we 
take  the  following  passage  which  shows  the  rapid  develop- 
ment of  the  state : 

"There  is  at  the  present  time  much  work  that  needs  to 
be  done  by  us  to  fill  up  the  demand  made  by  the  unparal- 
leled immigration  of  the  past  year.  The  frontier  has  been 
crowded  along  toward  the  setting  sun  from  fifty  to  one 
hundred  miles.  There  are  some  counties  which  had  scarcely 
a  settler  one  }"ear  ago,  that  to-day  are  so  fully  occupied  that 
there  is  scarcely  a  good  homestead  of  government  land 
that  is  not  occupied.  The  counties  north  of  the  Platte 
need  immediate  visitation  b}-  the  superintendent,  and  pro- 
vision for  siji ritual  necessity.  South  of  the  Platte,  especially 
in  what  will  be  the  garden  of  the  state — the  Republican  val- 
ley— there  are  as  many  more."' 

The  work  was  gro^ving. 

This  association  also  resolved  that  "God's  work  would 
be  honored  and  advanced  by  the  organization  of  a  woman's 
board  of  missions,"  and  appointed  Mrs.  J.  E.  hLlliot,  Mrs. 
A.  Dresser,  Mrs.  A.  B.  Pratt,  and  Mrs.  R.  C.  P)irge  a  com- 
mittee to  "initiate  the  matter."  Steps  were  taken  to  se- 
cure a  "compact"  with  the  Presbyterians  to  prevent  fric- 
tion in  the  development  of  home  missionary  work. 


'^linutcs,  isrn,  p.  6. 


54  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

XI 

REV.     H.    N.    GATES,    SUPERINTENDENT 

During  the  year  1873,  Supt.  O.  W.  Merrill  was  called  to 
his  eternal  home  and  Rev.  H.  N.  Gates  of  Minnesota  was 
appointed  to  fill  the  office  of  home  missionary  superin- 
tendent. 

His  first  report  shows  that  he  was  a  man  of  intellectual 
strength,  broad  vision,  and  keen  spiritual  perception.  He 
already  had  his  work  well  in  hand.  The  Association  in 
1874  said : 

"It  is  with  devout  thanksgiving  to  God  that  we  record 
His  goodness  to  us  the  past  year.  While  we  lament  the  ab- 
sence of  our  late  beloved  superintendent,  a  feeling  of  sad- 
ness comes  over  us  that  we  shall  hear  his  cheerful  voice  and 
listen  to  his  wise  counsel  no  more.  We  at  the  same  time  re- 
joice that  his  place  is  so  richly  filled  by  one  in  whom  we 
find  our  hearts  so  readily  and  easily  to  confide.  With  this 
exception  deatli  has  not  been  permitted  to  enter  our  ranks. 
While  some  who  came  with  us  last  year  have  found  fields 
of  labor  elsewhere,  their  places  have  been  more  than  filled, 
so  that  our  present  working  force  is  greater  than  it  was  a 
year  ago.  There  has  been  a  steady  and,  we  trust,  a  healthy 
growth  of  churches  and  members."^ 

We  begin  to  feel  that  we  are  reaching  modern  times,  for 
already  such  names  as  D.  B.  Perry,  H.  A.  French,  and  H. 
Bross  are  becoming  familiar  on  the  printed  page.  We  note 
also  that  "The  Ladies'  "  Association  for  Home  and  Foreign 
Missions  is  organized  with  Mrs.  A.  Farwell  of  Ashland  as 
president,  Mrs.  G.  W.  Hall  of  Omaha  secretary,  and  Mrs. 
H.  M.  Bates  of  Omaha  treasurer. 

'Minutes,  1S74,  p.  14. 


RI-:\'.   II.    N.   GATES 
Third  State  Superintendent  of  Home  Missions 


56 


CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 


THE    RAVAGES    OF    LOCUSTS 

It  was  a  trying-  ordeal  through  which  Nebraskans  passed. 
Crops  devastated  by  the  locusts ;  people  reduced  to  poverty ; 
many  leaving  the  state ;  many  more  unable  to  leave ;  some 
resolving  to  remain  at  any  cost,  believing  in  the  future  of 
the  new  state.     These  had  their  reward.     What  kind  of  a 


GRASSHOPPER   SCENE,    PLATTSMOUTII,    NEBRASKA,    1 876 


report  should  we  expect  from  the  home  missionary  super- 
intendent? 

"I  have  to  record  the  mercy  of  God  to  both  churches  and 
ministers  during  the  past  year — a  year  of  unprecedented 
hardships  and  suffering  to  the  people  of  the  state,  in  con- 
sequence of  the  ravages  of  the  locusts  during  the  last  sea- 


RIi:V.    H.    N.    GATES,    SL'PKRINTENDKN-f  57 

son.  I  would  also  put  on  record  the  wonderful  interposition 
of  Providence  in  shielding  our  state  during  the  past  sitiiniicr 
from  the  ravages  of  the  locusts,  which,  for  several  months, 
hung  over  us  in  numbers  sufficient  to  have  devoured  every 
green  thing;  but  by  the  hand  of  God  we  were  protected 
from  the  evil,  and  instead  of  devastating  fields  and  suffering 
families,  our  people  are  rejoicing  in  bountiful  harvests  and 
a  plenty  of  all  the  necessaries  of  life.  To  God  be  all  the 
praise."- 

'J'his  year  some  eleven  new  churches  were  organized, 
among  them  Hastings  and  Neligh.  The  work  was  strength- 
ened throughout  the  whole  state.  Sui)erintendent  Gates 
reported  eighty-one  churches  in  all. 

We  find  in  the  minutes  of  this  year  the  name  of  the  Rev. 
Lewis  Gregory,  whose  twenty-three  years  service  as  min- 
ister to  the  First  Church,  Lincoln,  has  made  his  name  a 
household  one  in  the  state,  and  won  for  him  the  title  of 
"The  Nestor  of  Congregationalism  in  Nebraska."  He  has 
filled  a  large  place  in  the  state  and  has  helped  in  large 
measure  to  make  its  history  ;  a  man  of  rare  wisdom,  devo- 
tion, and  loyalty  to  the  churches.  Retired  from  the  active 
ministry,  but  active  in  business  circles,  he  still  lives  among 
us,  a  help  and  inspiration  to  all  who  learn  to  know  him. 


"Minutes,  1875,  p.  12. 


58  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

XII 

SUNDAY    SCHOOL    DEVELOPMENT 

The  period  of  the  '70s  witnessed  a  steady  development  of 
church  Hfe  and  the  beginning  of  systematic  state  Sunday 
school  work,  which  has  been  so  ably  carried  on  by  Rev. 
J.  D.  Stewart,  the  only  state  superintendent  of  Sunday 
school  work  Nebraska  has  had.  and  the  first  superintendent 
appointed  by  our  National  Sunday  School  and  Publishing 
Society,  though  preceded  by  Superintendent  Made  in  actual 
service. 

Superintendent  Stewart,  formerly  minister  at  Hastings, 
was  called  to  the  state  Sunday  school  work  in  1882;  but  it 
was  in  1879  that  resolutions  calling  for  a  national  Sunday 
school  secretary,  and  for  Sunday  school  institutes,  normal 
classes,  and  greater  efficiency  in  Sunday  school  training  in 
our  Nebraska  churches  were  passed.^  These  were  the  initial 
steps  which  led  up  to  the  present  system  of  Sunday  school 
work  in  the  state.  A  letter-  from  Superintendent  Stewart 
telling  of  pioneer  experiences  may  well  be  introduced  here : 

"Pioneer  work,  laying  foundations  for  Christian  institu- 
tions and  character,  mostly  on  the  frontier  and  in  new 
towns,  leaves  fragrant  and  lasting  memories.  To  preach 
tJie  gospel  of  good  citizenship  to  new  communities,  while 
enterprising  business  men  sit  on  improvised  seats  in  un- 
furnished store  buildings ;  to  return  after  the  women  and 
children  arrive,  organize  Sunday  schools  and  develop  them 
into  churches,  visit  their  homes,  baptize  their  children, 
marry  their  young  people,  and  bury  their  dead,  is  to  estab- 
lish enduring  relations  with  a  multitude  of  families.     To 

'Minutes,  1879,  p.  11. 
'June  30,  1904. 


RE\'.    J.    D.    ST liW'A in- 
First  State  Superintendent  of  Congregational  Sunday  School   WOrl 
under  the   C.   S.   S.  and   P.   Societj' 


6e  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

travel  in  the  country  and  find  Christian  women,  mothers 
of  large  families,  liying  far  away  from  all  Christian  privi- 
leges, waiting  anxiously  for  the  missionary  to  come  and 
start  Sunday  schools,  to  hear  their  earnest  prayers  and  see 
the  tears  in  their  eyes  when  their  children  are  brought  to 
Christ  during  special  evangelistic  meetings  held  with  the 
mission  Sunday  schools,  is  enough  to  gladden  any  Christian 
heart. 

"To  cooperate  with  pastors  and  superintendent,  gather 
the  people  into  churches,  schoolhouses,  halls,  or  tents,  hold 
normal  institutes,  conventions,  and  grove  meetings,  teach 
Bible  lessons,  discuss  the  best  way  to  make  the  Sunday 
school  successful,  to  see  the  children  and  young  people  take 
notes,  all  anxioiis  to  learn  'more  about  Jesus,'  is  the  most 
satisfactory  work  a  man  can  be  engaged  in.  This  has  been 
our  experience  for  twenty-two  years." 

In  this  realistic  pen  picture  of  missionary  life  we  see  how 
the  Svmday  school  missionary  is  intimately  connected  with 
the  home  missionary  superintendent  in  upbuilding  Christian 
work  in  pioneer  fields. 

The  development  of  the  state  called  for  such  help,  and 
it  was  provided.  The  work  continues.  The  railroad  de- 
velopment in  the  state  has  enlarged  the  pioneer  work  of 
the  missionary.  There  are  whole  counties  with  but  few 
gos])el  privileges.  The  demand  for  more  men  is  urgent. 
Telephones  are  preceding  the  missionary  in  the  sandhills 
and  ranches  of  the  West. 

TRAN.SLATION  OF  REUBEN  GAYLORD 

January  lo,  1880,  witnessed  the  translation  of  the  pioneer 
preacher  and  founder  of  Congregational  churches  in  Ne- 
braska. A  brief  service  was  held  in  Fontanelle  where  he 
died,  conducted  by  Rev.  I.  E.  Heaton  of  Fremont,  and 
more  extended  services  were  held  in  Omaha.     At  the  fol- 


SUNDAY  sciux.>i.  iii:vF.iA>r.M i:nt 


6 1 


lowing;'  state  association  hold  in  Hastings.  C)ctol)cr.  iSXo. 
api)r(i])riatc  nioniorial  scr\ices  wore  held.  "The  service 
was  conducted  by  Rev.  A.  V.  Sherrill,  and  after  the  nie- 
niorial  paper  jirepafcd  by  Rev.  Julius  A.  Reed,  remarks 
were  made  by  Rev.  J.  (i.  Spencer,  Rev.  A.  Dresser,  and 
Rev.  Dr.  (II.  M.)  Storrs.  Extracts  were  read  from  letters 
written  bv  Rev.  Dr.  Salter  of  Dnrlinoton.  Iowa.  Rev.   Dr. 


SUNDAY    SCHOOL,    AMITY,    GREELEY  COUNTY,  NEIJKASKA 


Alagoun  of  Iowa  College,  and  Rev.  Daniel  Lane  of  Iowa.""" 
In  this  service  Nebraska  paid  loving-  tribute  to  the  memory 
of  the  man  who  has  done  more  than  any  other  one  man  to 
build  up  our  Congregational  Zion  in  the  state. 

This  year  also  Supt.  H.  N.  Gates  made  his  last  report  as 
superintendent  of  home  missions.     He  returned  to  pastoral 

^Minutes,  1880,  p.  29. 


62  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

work,  taking  charge  of  the  church  in  David  City  for  a  few 
years,  and  then  went  to  New  England,  where  he  passed 
the  last  years  of  his  life.  His  sister,  Mrs.  A.  N.  Goddard, 
of  New  Britain,  Connecticut,  writes : 

"Ilis  work  to  a  great  extent  was  organizing  and  encour- 
aging feeble  churches,  traveling  some  ten  thousand  miles 
a  year  in  that  state  [Nebraska].  He  spent  the  summer  of 
1876  at  the  East,  preaching  in  many  city  churches,  in  the 
interest  of  home  missions,  and  induced  a  number  of  theo- 
logical students  to  go  west  to  work  through  their  long  va- 
cation, guaranteeing  them  $100  each,  and  the  money  was 
raised.  Another  time,  when  the  home  society  could  not 
meet  the  quarterly  payments  of  the  needy  missionaries,  he 
advanced  the  money  to  them,  taking  no  interest,  until  they 
could  repay.  At  the  time  of  the  grasshopper  scourge,  great 
quantities  of  clothing  were  sent  to  them,  and  he,  with  the 
help  of  his  wife,  distributed  not  only  to  missionaries,  but 
other  destitute  families.  He  helped  in  founding  Gates  Col- 
lege, named  for  him  contrary  to  his  wishes,  and  felt  a  great 
interest  in  it,  doing  all  by  his  influence  for  it  in  his  power, 
and  when  it  seemed  best  no  longer  to  keep  it  as  a  college, 
was  disappointed.  His  last  years  were  quietly  spent  in 
Medford,  Massachusetts,  reading  much,  keeping  up  with 
the  times,  and  waiting  the  Lord's  time  to  take  him.  He 
talked  much  of  the  future  and  had  no  dread  of  the  end."* 

Mrs.  Goddard  was  with  her  brother  the  last  nine  and 
one-half  years  of  his  life  and  heard  much  from  his  lips  of 
his  experiences  in  Nebraska. 

Traveling  over  the  state  was  more  difficult  in  pioneer 
times  than  it  is  to-day  with  our  splendid  railroad  systems, 
but  even  now  a  sixty-mile  drive  over  sandhills  and  prairie 
is  by  no  means  uncommon. 

'Letter  dated  June  29,  1904. 


REV.  c.  \v.  mi:krim..  sl  ri  kintendent  63 

XIII 

REV.    C.    \V.    Ml^.RKILL,   SUPERINTENDENT 

Superintendent  Gates  was  succeeded  in  1881  by  the  Rev. 
C.  W.  jMerrill  of  Waseca,  Minnesota,  as  State  Superin- 
tendent of  Home  Missions,  and  with  liis  ach'fut  we  may 
date 

TlIK    MC/DERN    DEVI-:i,()riM  ENT    OK    CONC.REGATION  ALISM 
IN    Nia'.RASKA 

When  Sui)erintendent  Merrill  made  his  first  re])ort  he 
found,  out  of  the  "136  nominal  organizations  132  dc  facto 
churches" ;  of  these  fourteen  were  self-supporting.  Sev- 
enty-foiu"  cJuu-ches  were  supplied  with  regular  services ; 
fifty-one  a  ])art  of  the  year;  and  eleven  had  no  regula" 
services. 

The  (lerman  Association,  which  has  such  an  interesting 
history,  had  come  into  being  with  eight  churches,  and  Rev. 
T.  D.  Stewart  was  soon  to  enter  upon  his  duties  as  State 
Superintendent  of  Congregational  Sunday  School  Work,  so 
that  Superintendent  Merrill  had  the  help  of  his  valuable 
assistance,  for  the  cultivation  of  a  Sunday  school  mission 
field  was  often  the  most  valuable  preparation  for  vigorous 
church  extension.  The  problems  of  the  field  were  very 
similar  to  those  which  confront  us  to-day. 

During  the  first  six  and  one-half  months  of  Superin- 
tendent Merrill's  service  he  traveled  12,595  miles,  580  of 
these  by  team.     It  was  no  sinecure  office  which  he  filled. 

He  had  a  strong  conviction  that  there  was  need  of  "a 
better  understanding  of  the  relation  of  the  church  to  the 
A.  H.  M.  S.  The  idea  of  some  seems  to  be  to  get  all  that 
can  be  secured  from  the  society,  and  the  church  make  up 


REV.    C.    W.    MERRILL 
Fourth    State    Siiperintendent   of   Home   Missions 


REV.    C.    W.    MKKRILL,    Snri:Kl  NTKNDKNT  65 

the  rest  of  pastor's  salary;  the  idea  of  others,  to  ask  and 
get  a  certain  amount  from  the  society  and  raise  a  certain 
amount  themselves. 

"What  is  the  true  idea?  Sim[)ly  this:  the  Home  Mission- 
ary Society  is  a  helper.  A  thorough,  careful  canvass  should 
he  made  of  the  church,  the  field,  all  who  will  give  to  sup- 
port the  Gospel,  and  then  an  honest  ansiver  given  to  ques- 
tion twenty  in  the  form  of  application,  'The  least  amount 
that  will  suffice  from  the  A.  H.  M.  S.'  Pardon  the  blunt- 
ness,  but  in  many  cases  that  question  is  not  honestly  an- 
swered."^ The  Board  of  Directors  of  the  Nebraska  Home 
i\Iissionary  Society  in  their  monthly  meetings  appreciate 
the  application  of  these  plain  words  to  present-day  condi- 
tions. Too  many  times  a  tliorough  canvass  of  the  local 
field  has  not  been  made.  This  may  be  natural,  but  it  is 
not  Christian. 

The  association  this  year — i88i — recommended  to  the 
churches  the  Congregational  paper  "Church  and  Village," 
established  and  owned  by  Rev.  H.  A.  French,  then  pastor 
at  Mil  ford.  This  pa})er  was  established  in  July,  1880,  and 
in  July,  1882,  its  name  was  changed  to  "The  Nebraska 
Congregational  News."  It  has  held  a  unique  place  among 
the  state  Congregational  papers  of  the  country  and  is 
placed  in  the  very  front  rank.  Tt  has  been  a  valuable 
medium  through  which  church  and  school  news,  secured 
in  no  other  way,  comes  to  our  homes  and  has  been  published 
in  Lincoln  where  Mr.  French  resides. 

The  association  in  1882  was  able  to  record  a  marked  in- 
crease in  benevolences  and  conversions,  and  a  "kindling 
enthusiasm  in  Bible  study  and  Sunday  school  work."  It 
also  took  measures  to  organize  a  State  Home  Missionary 
Society  to  take  the  place  of  the  State  Central  Home  Mis- 
sionary Committee.      This  organization   was   completed  at 

'Minutes,  1881,  p.  29. 
5 


ASKA  r()NGHi;(;\Tl()N.\L  NEWS. 


_^»V-s^ 


REV.  H.  A.  FRENCH  AND  THE  NEBRASKA  CONGREGATIONAL 

NEWS 


Rl-:\'.    C.    W.    .MKRRIIJ.,    SUPliKIXTKNDENT  67 

the  meeting  in  York  in  1883  with  the  following  officers: 
President  Rev.  W.  S.  Hampton,  Recording  Secretary  Rev. 
L.  Gregory,  Treasurer  Rev.  C.  W.  Merrill;  Board  of  Di- 
rectors :  Rev.  H.  Bross,  Leavitt  Burnham,  Rev.  L.  Greg- 
ory, Pres.  D.  B.  Perry,  Rev.  W.  Scott,  Rev.  A.  F.  Sherrill, 
and  Charles  West. 

With  this  organization  Congregational  Nebraska  came 
into  line  with  the  older  states  in  the  aggressive  work  of  the 
churches. 

At  the  meeting  of  1883  Superintendent  Merrill  reported 
that  he  had  traveled  during  the  year  27,173  miles,  visited 
130  churches  and  fields,  and  delivered  123  sermons  and 
addresses.  The  churches  had  increased  to  147.  Fourteen 
churches  had  been  organized  during  the  year,  five  of  whom 
were  German.  Omaha  now  boasted  its  second  church,  St. 
Mary's  Avenue,  organized  Alay  8,  1883.  Omaha  has  now, 
1905,  eight  churches,  the  First,  St.  Mary's  Avenue,  Ply- 
mouth, Saratoga,  German,  Cherry  Hill,  Hillside,  and  Park 
Vale. 

It  was  generally  the  privilege  of  the  association  at  its 
annual  meetings  to  welcome  representative  Congregation- 
alists  from  the  East  and  from  other  state  associations.  In 
the  earlier  days  delegates  from  other  state  bodies  were  re- 
ceived, and  the  association  appointed  delegates  to  their  state 
meetings.  This  pleasing  custom  gradually  went  out  of 
use,  but  our  missionary  secretaries  continue  to  visit  us  from 
time  to  time,  and  in  these  later  days  enterprising  business 
committees  have  secured  the  presence  of  some  of  the  most 
noted  missionaries  from  the  foreign  field.  They  have 
thrilled  us  with  their  addresses,  and  have  given  us  a  larger 
vision  of  the  world-wide  work  in  which  we  all  have  a 
common  interest.  We  shall  not  soon  forget  the  visits  of 
such  men  as  Dr.  W.  S.  Anient  of  China  and  Dr.  R.  A. 
Hume  of  India. 


68  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

THE    NEBRASKA    SUNDAY    SCHOOL    ASSEMBLY 

In  the  '80s  we  find  the  Nebraska  Sunday  School  assem- 
bly established,  with  Rev.  A.  E.  Dunning,  D.D.,  of  Boston, 
as  conductor.  A  Chautauqua  assembly  for  some  years 
was  conducted  at  Crete  with  superior  programs,  which  at- 
tracted visitors  outside  of  the  state,  but  the  enterprise  was 
not  a  financial  success,  and  was,  after  some  years'  trial, 
reluctantly  given  up.  It  is  a  matter  of  sincere  regret  that 
this  movemicnt,  which  gave  prestige  to  the  denomination 
and  was  developing  a  Congregational  consciousness,  should 
have  failed  for  want  of  financial  support.  The  reasons  for 
this  it  is  not  our  purpose  to  discuss.  Opinions  vary.  The 
loss  to  the  churches,  however,  is  evident. 

THE  GERMAN    WORK 

The  German  work  was  sO'  rapidly  expanding  that  a 
general  superintendent,  the  Rev.  George  E.  Albrecht,  was 
appointed  with  headquarters  at  Davenport,  Iowa.  Dr.  Al- 
brecht, in  the  interest  of  the  German  work,  visited  the  asso- 
ciation at  its  Norfolk  meeting  in  1S84.  Dr.  Dunning  was 
also  a  visitor,  speaking  in  the  interest  of  the  Sunday  School 
Assembly,  and  Dr.  Wm.  M.  Barrows,  Secretary  of  the  A.  H. 
M.  S.,  represented  that  society.  At  this  meeting  Superin- 
tendent Merrill  closed  his  work  in  the  state,  having  been 
enticed  to  resume  pastoral  labor  in  Minnesota. 

]\Ir.  Merrill  is  now  in  Saratoga,  California,  and  in  re- 
sponse to  a  request  for  some  reminiscences  of  his  experi- 
ences in  Nebraska  sends  the  following  characteristic  letter: 

"Saratoga,  Cal.,  June  4,  1904. 
"Dear  Brother — I  send  in  this  some  crude  material  for 
vou  to  work  over  if  you  can  make  use  of  it.     I  have  left  it 
in  'the  rare'  because  I  had  but  little  idea  how  much  room 
you  would  wish  to  give,  if  any,  to  what  I  send. 


REV.   C.    VV.    MERRILL,   SUrERINTENDEXT  69 

"I  preached  one  Sunday  in  the  First  Church  of  Omaha ; 
the  next  Sunday  the  same  sermon  in  a  sod  schoolhouse  in 
northern  Nebraska,  the  insects  so  thick  I  could  hardly 
breathe  without  swallowing-  bugs ;  yet  cultured  and  college- 
educated  people  in  the  schoolhouse  could  appreciate  the  best 
sermon  as  well  as  the  people  in  the  Omaha  church.  When 
the  church  at  Arlington  was  organized  there  was  not  an 
original  Congregationalist  in  the  organization.  Congrega- 
tionalism is  the  solution  of  such  a  situation.  Church  or- 
ganized at  Phelps  Center,  the  county  seat.  New  railroad 
went  through,  and  town  of  Holdrege  started  four  miles 
away.  Phelps  Center  in  winter  time  was  put  on  runners, 
every  building,  stores,  schoolhouse,  residences,  and  all  and 
'slid'  over  to  Holdrege,  four  miles. 

"Student  employed  on  one  field  of  three  points  for  the 
summer;  preached  every  Sunday  morning  at  one  point,  and 
in  the  afternoon  alternated  between  other  two  points.  I 
went  on  the  field  and  wished  to  visit  all  three  points  in  one 
day ;  rode  forty  miles ;  preached  three  times ;  held  three 
communion  services ;  held  three  church  meetings ;  reached 
home  at  midnight,  or  rather  reached  starting  point;  strong, 
hot  south  wind,  mercury  107  degrees  above  zero;  student 
used  up  riding  around  and  looking  on  while  superintendent 
next  morning  started  on  for  other  work. 

"Church  building  put  up  at  Freewater  in  the  Republican 
valley.  Foundation  had  to  be  in  by  a  certain  time  or  largest 
sub.scription  lapsed ;  delayed  in  getting  brick ;  they  came 
right  in  height  of  harvest,  when  the  men  could  not  be  spared 
from  the  fields  for  a  single  day ;  women  took  teams  and  went 
twenty-four  miles  to  railroad,  loaded  the  brick  on  wagons, 
drove  them  home ;  foundation  put  in  at  night,  subscription 
saved ;  and  building  dedicated  free  from  debt.  These  wo- 
men were  of  finest  culture  and  education. 


70  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

"Had  correspondence  with  persons  in  Beatrice  about 
church  organization ;  one  night  by  telephone  arranged  for 
services  the  next  Sunday ;  conducted  the  services,  completed 
the  arrangements,  laid  the  plans,  called  the  council,  and  in- 
side two  weeks  the  church  was  organized  and  services, 
regular  services,  established. 

"When  I  closed  my  work  as  superintendent,  I  received  a 
call  from  this  church,  signed  by  every  member,  some  over 
forty,  in  the  church. 

''When  I  began  my  work  the  First  Church  in  Omaha  was 
the  only  Congregational  church  in  the  city ;  their  idea  was 
to  have  one  strong  central  church.  They  saw  their  mistake 
afterward. 

"I  secured  Rev.  Geo.  Hindley  to  work  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  the  St.  Mary's  Avenue  Church.  In  about  a  year 
effected  an  organization;  secured  Rev.  Willard  Scott  from 
New  York;  had  to  give  $750  from  the  missionary  society 
on  salary  of  $1500.  Committee  thought  it  very  unwise;  in 
third  year  the  church  came  to  self-support,  and  soon  be- 
came one  of  the  best  churches  in  the  state. 

"W^ent  to  Ogalalla ;  no  church,  Sunday  school,  or  any- 
thing of  the  kind.  Just  before  I  was  there  a  fire  burned 
down  most  of  the  business  part  of  the  town ;  some  men  were 
gambling  in  a  saloon  ;  saloon  took  fire,  men  moved  their 
table  into  the  street  and  w^ent  on  with  their  gambling  by 
light  of  the  burning  buildings. 

"I  secured  a  man  to  go  there  as  teacher  and  preacher, 
and  in  a  short  time  had  council  called  to  organize  a  church. 

"But  I  think  T  better  'say  amen  and  quit.' 

"I  don't  know  as  I  have  come  within  forty  rods  of  what 
you  wish,  but  have  at  least  shown  my  good  will. 
"Most  cordially  yours, 

"C.  W.  Merrill." 


REV.    J.    I-     MAILE,    SUPERINTENDENT  7 1 

XIV 
REV.  J.  L.  MAILE,  SUPERINTENDENT 

Rev.  J.  L.  Mailc,  formerly  of  Michigan,  was  chosen  state 
superintendent  in  place  of  Mr.  Merrill. 

During  Mr.  Merrill's  service  in  the  state  the  work  had 
so  expanded  that  we  find  in  his  last  report  that  in  this 
time,  three  years  and  eight  months,  he  had  traveled  93.712 
miles:  by  team  2,666;  by  railroad  91,046,  and  had  given 
534  sermons  and  addresses.  Forty-two  churches  had  been 
organized  with  a  membership  of  646,  and  forty-three  meet- 
ing-houses erected.^  A  general  missionary  was  also  ap- 
pointed, Dr.  H.  Bross,  for  several  years  pastor  at  Crete, 
entering  upon  the  work. 

Superintendent  Maile's  first  report,  given  at  Beatrice, 
1884,  shows  that  the  list  of  churches  had  increased  to  168. 
Seventeen  of  these  were  self-supporting.  Nebraska  was 
still  a  missionary  state,  and  its  history  largely  of  home 
missionary  work.  The  development  of  church  and  school 
was  largely  dependent  on  the  fostering  care  of  the  Na- 
tional Home  Missionary  Society. 

The  state  itself  is  a  large  debtor  to  the  generous  aid  of 
the  home  missionary  societies  connected  with  the  diflferent 
denominations  represented  within  its  borders.  It  has  not 
yet,  nor  can  it  easily,  cancel  its  obligations. 

The  churches  in  this  period  believed  in  the  installation 
of  pastors,  and  the  year  1885  witnessed  the  following  in- 
stallations by  councils :  Rev.  W.  P.  Bennett  at  Crete,  Rev. 
S.  H.  Harrison  at  York,  Rev.  C.  E.  Harwood  at  Fairfield, 
Rev.  William  O.  Wheeden  at  Beatrice,  and  Rev.  W.  D. 
Page  at  Cowles.     There  were  also  ordained  that  year  Rev. 

*  Minutes,  1884,  p.  24. 


REV.    JOHN    L.    MAILE^    M.A. 
Fifth  State  Superintendent  of  Home  Missions 


luiv.   J.   I..    MAii.F.,  siim:uixtkni)i:nt  73 

George  C.  Hall,  Rev.  John  Lich,  Rev.  George  \V.  Mitchell, 
Rev.  A.  B.  Show,  Rev.  W.  1).  J.  Stevenson,  Rev.  W.  O. 
Wliceden,  Rev.  W.  D.  Page,  and  Rev.  J.  W.  Hadden. 

The  following  churches  were  dedicated  that  year:  Be- 
atrice, Camhridge,  Cumniinsville,  Doniphan,  Emanuel, 
L^-anklin,  Fremont,  Glo\ersville.  Indianola,  Liberty,  Mar- 
tinsburg,  Milford,  Newcastle,  Omaha  Third,  Pierce,  Rich- 
mond, and  West  Cedar  \'alley.  Chadron,  Cowles,  Lincoln, 
Norfolk,  Ogalalla,  and  Stratton  had  houses  of  worship 
nearly  completed. - 

Such  lists  from  year  to  year  were  not  infrequent.  These 
are  noted  as  an  illustration  of  the  ccclcsiasticism  of  the 
period ;  the  development  of  a  Congregational  consciousness. 
There  was  "something  adoing''  in  the  state  all  the  time. 

The  five  years  of  Superintendent  blade's  service  in  the 
state  represents  a  time  of  marked  interest  in  the  develop- 
ment of  the  educational  interests  of  the  denomination  and 
in  questions  of  church  polity.  At  the  Beatrice  meeting 
1885,  Rev.  W.  P.  Bennett  read  a  strong  paper  representing 
the  old  view.  "The  second  principle  in  our  polity,"  which 
v/as  published  in  the  Congregational  Neivs,  and  was  spoken 
of  as  "especially  timely  in  our  own  state,"  which  indicates 
the  conservative  trend  of  thought  at  the  time  in  reference 
to  the  fellozvship  of  the  churches. 

The  centralizing  tendency  in  church  polity  of  the  present 
day  would  have  been  vigorously  opposed  then.  In  1888 
Rev.  L.  F.  Berry  of  Fremont  gave  a  masterful  paper  on 
"What  constitutes  a  quorum  of  a  council?"  and  by  vote 
of  the  association  it  was  ordered  printed  in  the  minutes.-'' 

It  was  this  }ear  that  Dr.  A.  F.  Sherrill  closed  his  long 
pastorate  in  First  Church  Omaha  and  removed  from  the 
state,  to  the  great  regret  of  all  the  churches. 

'Alimites,  1SS5,  pp.  IS,  19. 
"Minutes,  1888,  pp.  15-33. 


74  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

LETTER  FROM   DR.   SIIERRILL 

In  response  to  repeated  and  urgent  requests  Dr.  Sherrill 
sends  a  jubilee  message  to  the  Nebraska  churches: 

"Lee^  Massachusetts^  August  i8,  1904. 

"Dear  Brother — You  ask  me  to  give  the  relative  status 
of  the  Congregational  churches  in  Nebraska  when  I  went 
there  in  1869,  and  when  I  left  in  1888.  At  the  former 
date  there  were  about  twenty  of  our  churches  in  the  state. 
Some  of  them  had  a  very  plain  frame  meeting-house,  more 
had  none,  and  all  depended  on  the  Home  Missionary  So- 
ciety for  help.  In  1888  there  were  168  churches  in  the 
state.  Forty-seven  were  self-supporting,  generally  with 
good,  modern  buildings,  some  of  which  had  cost  $50,000 
or  more.  The  early  churches,  though  few  and  small,  cor- 
responded well  with  other  growth  and  conditions  in  the 
state,  and  with  their  pastors  were  useful,  and  regarded 
well  by  the  people. 

"The  superintendents  succeeding  Mr.  Gaylord  kept  pace 
with  frontier  progress,  and  preserved  our  good  reputation 
as  pioneer  churches.  Our  first  pastors  were  followed  by 
younger  men,  as  President  Perry,  Rev.  Lewis  Gregory, 
Superintendent  Bross,  and  others,  who  came  to  the  state 
to  remain  and  do  permanent  work,  and  their  services  to 
the  churches,  to  education,  and  other  interests  can  not  be 
overstated.  When  I  left  Nebraska,  our  denomination  was 
in  the  forefront  as  to  number  and  activity  of  churches, 
and  Doane  College  with  affiliated  academies,  illustrated  our 
reputation  everywhere  for  interest  in  Christian  education. 

"In  those  earlier  days  we  tried  to  plant  churches  only 
where  they  were  plainly  needed,  avoiding  sectarian  ambi- 
tion, and  keeping  the  responsibility  for  too  many  churches 
in  the  town  where  it  belonged.  In  closing,  let  me  pay  a 
hearty  tribute  to  the  laymen  of  both  sexes,  whose  worth, 


REV.    J.    L.    MAILE,    SUPERINTENDENT  75 

g-enerosity,  and  devotion  contriljutcd  so  largely,  not  only 
to  the  growth  of  the  chnrches  but  also  to  all  that  enters  into 
the  fomidations  of  a  good  connnonwealth." 

Supt.  j.  L.  Maile  closed  his  labors  with  the  Nebraska 
churches  in  1889  at  the  Ashland  meeting  of  which  he  was 
moderator. 

The  Home  Missionary  Society  expressed  by  vote  its  "high 
appreciation  of  the  consecration  and  devotion  he  has  mani- 
fested, and  the  efficiency  he  has  shown  in  his  five  years 
of  service  with  us ;  and  we  heartily  commend  him  for  the 
work  he  has  done,  and  bid  him  Godspeed  in  the  work 
which  lies  before  him."^ 

Mr.  Maile  has  kindly  furnislicd  recollections  of  his  work 
in  the  following  letter: 

"Los  Angeles,  California,  June  i8,  1904. 

"Dear  Sir — In  line  with  your  request  for  some  recollec- 
tions of  the  events  of  my  work  in  Nebraska,  I  send  you 
the  following: 

"As  Superintendent  for  the  Congregational  Home  Mis- 
sionary Society  in  Nebraska,  I  began  my  labor  in  October, 
1884,  attending  the  State  Association  at  Norfolk,  as  a  be- 
ginning of  my  work. 

"I  relinquished  my  superintendency  of  state  Sunday 
school  work  in  Missouri  to  accept  this  appointment.  Dur- 
ing the  two  previous  summers  I  taught  in  the  normal  de- 
partment of  the  Crete  Chautauqua  assembly,  directing  the 
program  during  the  second  season.  My  previous  acquaint- 
ance with  the  Rev.  J.  D.  Stewart  at  Chautauqua,  New  York, 
led  to  these  engagements. 

"From  the  acquaintance  thus  formed  in  the  state,  I  was 
asked  to  succeed  Rev.  C.  W.  Merrill,  resigned.  He  had 
successfully  led  the  home  missionary  work  for  a  number 

'Minutes,  ISS9,  p.  24. 


76  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

of  years,  following  Superintendent  Gates.  I  may  say  that 
as  Secretary  of  our  National  Sunday  School  Committee, 
formed  at  Chautauqua,  New  York,  in  1878,  I  there  met 
Brother  Stewart,  and  thus  one  contact  and  friendship  led 
on  to  another. 

"Tlie  work  of  this  national  committee  led  to  the  holding 
of  a  Congregational  congress  at  Chautauqua  in  1879,  at 
which  Joseph  Cook,  Lyman  Abbott,  Dr.  J.  O.  Means,  Dr. 
Hutchins,  and  others  addressed  our  Congregational  people. 
Our  agitation  of  the  need  of  an  advanced  movement  in  our 
denominational  Sunday  school  work  culminated  in  the  ap- 
pointment by  the  directors  of  the  Sunday  School  and  Pub- 
lishing Society  of  Rev.  A.  E.  Dunning,  D.D.,  as  National 
Secretary. 

"Under  the  reorganization,  Rev.  Jno.  L.  Maile  was  ap- 
pointed first  on  the  list  of  superintendents  to  serve  in 
Colorado,  Rev.  J.  D.  Stewart  was  next  assigned  to  Ne- 
braska, and  Rev.  H.  P.  Case  succeeded  Mr.  Maile  in  Colo- 
rado, the  latter  being  transferred  to  Missouri. 

"TJiese  successive  steps  in  the  development  of  our  general 
Sunday  school  work  are  interesting  and  important  because 
the  prosperity  of  our  home  missionary  work  has  been  much 
assisted  by  the  aggressive  life  of  our  Sunday  school  enter- 
prise. 

"My  five  years'  work  as  superintendent  of  home  missions 
in  Nebraska  occurred  during  a  period  of  energetic  expan- 
sion and  occupancy  of  many  communities  on  the  advanc- 
ing of  settlements. 

"Some  sixty-one  churches  were  organized  during  this 
period ;  not  all  of  these  organizations  were  due  to  my 
initiation.  I  recall  as  having  little  to  do  with  starting  the 
work  at  Beatrice  and  Seward ;  the  German  churches  were 
not  recipients  of  my  care,  although  I  cooperated  for  their 
welfare  as  best  I  could. 


REV,     J.    L.     MAlLli,    SUrKKlNTF.NDliNT  77 

"General  Missionary  Harmon  Dross,  my  most  efficient 
and  honored  successor,  started  the  work  at  Chadron,  Craw- 
ford, Hay  Springs,  Heniingford,  and  other  places.  i 
vividly  recollect  the  improvised  meeting-house  of  Plymouth 
Church  in  Lincoln,  with  earth  hanked  well-nigh  up  to  the 
eaves  of  the  board  structure,  resultant  in  comfort  during 
severest  winter  storm.  In  the  council  organizing  the  church 
at  P.urwell,  Rev.  Lewis  Gregory  rendered  very  important 
assistance. 

"Thus   1   might   recall  the   incidents  occurring  on  many 

new  fields. 

"At  Curtis  the  work  was  started  under  very  primitive 
conditions.  Doniphan  required  persistent  faithfulness  on 
the  part  of  Rev.  J.  H.  Embree.  The  church  at  Dustin 
was  due  to  the  energetic  efforts  of  Mrs.  Dustin  and  family. 
They  had  come  from  Boston  for  the  benefit  of  the  health 
of  a'  son  and  daughter,  and  found  a  marked  contrast  in  the 
manner  of  life  at  the  metropolis,  and  in  the  distant  valley 
of  northern  Nebraska.  Mrs.  Dustin  rode  her  broncho  from 
one  isolated  ranch  home  to  another,  and  interested  mothers 
and  children  in  Sunday  school  and  temperance  work. 

"The  work  at  Farnam  was  first  led  by  Rev.  John  Wool- 
man,  whose  large  family  was  domiciled  in  very  small 
quarters,  and  at  that  time  the  people  of  the  congregation 
were  in  the  midst  of  the  trials  incident  to  pioneering  in  those 
days.  Our  Grand  Island  church  was  formed  under  cir- 
cumstances which  led  some  good  people  to  doubt  the  success 
of  the  enterprise.  Rev.  Mr.  Comstock  was  the  first  pastor, 
and  I  judge  a  succession  of  efl^cient  ministers  have  wisely 

led  the  church. 

•■'At  Leigh  I  found  a  Dr.  Geer.  brother  to  a  former  fellow- 
student  at  Oberlin,  and  have  since  met  him  here  in  southern 
CaHfornia.  This  church  enjoyed  one  or  two  genuine  re- 
vival seasons,  and  was  much  strengthened  thereby. 


78  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

"I  think  it  was  at  Newcastle  that  I  made  my  first  visit  in 
northeastern  Nebraska  immediately  after  the  association 
meeting  in  1884.  The  elderly  minister  was  in  a  peck  of 
trouble,  and  the  wisdom  of  the  superintendent  was  drawn 
upon  to  solve  sundry  problems.  I  trust  this  work  survives 
in  strength. 

"At  Ogalalla  I  assisted  in  dedicating  the  meeting-house. 
Mr.  L.  E.  Brown,  who  was  passing  from  the  law  into  the 
ministry,  was  the  young  pastor.  A  successful  series  of 
meetings  was  held.  The  family  of  the  station-master  was 
specially  interested  and  the  work  received  a  strong  impulse. 

"Five  churches  were  organized  in  Omaha  during  my 
administration,  and  I  suppose  they  have  had  varying  de- 
grees of  success. 

'T  recall  the  beginning  of  the  work  at  Strang  and 
Sliickley,  under  the  lead  of  Mr.  Glen  A.  Taylor,  who  came 
direct  from  Yale  Theological  Seminary.  Special  difficulty 
seemed  to  attend  these  enterprises,  but  they  were  in  good 
measure  overcome. 

"Geneva  was  started  by  the  Presbyterians,  but  was 
changed  to  our  Congregational  fellowship  by  the  almost 
unanimous  action  of  the  people  concerned. 

"At  Trenton,  well  on  toward  the  western  line  of  the 
state  in  the  Republican  valley,  Mr.  and  the  Misses  Hogg 
were  the  pillars  in  that  church.  If  memory  serves,  a  very 
ungodly  man  made  a  generous  subscription  toward  build- 
ing the  meeting-house,  on  the  ground  that  he  did  not  wish 
passengers,  looking  from  the  Pullman  car  windows  upon 
the  village,  should  consider  it  a  heathen  community  because 
no  church  edifice  was  visible.  I  have  met  the  Misses  Hogg 
in  Los  Angeles,  as  indeed  many  old  friendships  have  here 
been  renewed. 

"My  recollections  of  the  details  of  the  work  are  so  im- 
perfect that  I  hesitate  to  write  the  above.     Much   more 


REV.    J.    L.     MAILE,    SUPERINTENDENT  79 

mi^ht  be  said.  A  true  spirit  of  consecration  and  of  earnest 
desire  to  build  up  the  Kingdom  of  Christ  characterized  our 
ministry  and  churches  as  a  whole.  I  enjoyed  the  hearty 
cooperation  anci  friendliness  of  pastors  of  self-supporting 
churches.  A.  V.  Sherrill,  Willard  Scott,  Lewis  Gregory, 
President  Ferry,  Professor  Fairchild,  J,  D.  Stewart,  and 
many  others  might  be  mentioned  whose  inspiring  friend- 
ship was  of  greatest  value  to  me. 

"Mr.  Charles  West  of  Lincoln  very  efficiently  served  as 
Secretary  of  the  State  Board  of  Home  Missions.  He  re- 
moved to  Denver  and  there  passed  to  the  Beyond. 

"It  was  my  privilege  to  serve  as  trustee  on  the  board 
at  Doane  College.  The  inside  views  there  obtained  con- 
firmed my  sense  of  the  importance  of  education  conducted 
under  distinctly  Christian  auspices.  Much  quiet,  hard  work 
has  gone  into  the  young  life  of  Nebraska  from  this  insti- 
tution. Tiie  affiliated  academies  are  doing  an  equally  im- 
portant work,  the  circle  of  institutions  forming  an  ideal 
combmation  for  the  attainment  of  the  great  ends  they 
represent. 

"In  my  addresses  to  the  churches,  I  frequently  urged  the 
im])ortance  of  dedicating  promising  young  men  to  the 
Christian  ministry,  and  since  our  churches  were  served  by 
pastors  who  had  been  raised  up  elsewhere,  w-e  should  de- 
velop our  proportion  of  ministers  for  the  time  to  come.  I 
pressed  the  importance  of  sustaining  our  educational  in- 
stitutions as  an  effective  method  of  building  up  our 
churclies  in  the  Christian  life. 

"The  impression  was  thus  unwittingly  made  that  I  was 
specially  interested  in  Christian  education,  and  when  the 
Educational  Society  at  Boston  was,  in  1889,  looking  for 
some  one  to  serve  as  college  field  secretary,  I  was  asked  to 
take  that  responsibility.  I  accordingly  resigned  my  Ne- 
braska appointment,  and  in  October  of  said  year  began  in 


So  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

New   England  my  work  of   representing  western  colleges 
and  academies  to  the  eastern  churches. 

"Nine  colleges,  eighteen  academies,  and  twelve  mission 
schools  were  at  times  on  our  list  to  be  presented  in  public 
and  in  private.  I  frequently  met  President  Warren  of 
Gates  College  (now  of  Yankton  College)  and  other  veteran 
presidents. 

"In  1895-97  I  made  a  special  campaign  for  endowment 
for  Whitman  College,  Washington,  and  gathered  much 
original  data  concerning  the  great  work  of  Missionary  Mar- 
cus Whitman  in  saving  to  our  country  the  great  northwest 
region  of  the  Pacific  Coast. 

"Health  being  impaired  under  the  stress  of  continuous 
and  heavy  work,  I  sought  a  change  by  accepting,  in  1897, 
the  home  missionary  superintendency  of  North  Dakota.  I 
served  in  this  field  with  happiness  to  myself  until  the  effect 
of  severe  winter  compelled  the  seeking  of  a  milder  climate. 

"Rev.  James  T.  Ford,  the  veteran  superintendent  of 
southern  California,  having  resigned,  to  take  efifect  April 
I,  1899,  I  entered  the  open  door  of  that  work,  and  am 
wholly  rejuvenated  by  the  restoring  effects  of  the  most 
attractive  climate  on  earth. 

"1  treasure  the  remembrances  of  my  Nebraska  life  as 
among  my  most  precious  treasures.  It  must  be  that  such 
rich  reminiscences  will  spring  into  new  life  in  the  realms 
of  the  Great  Beyond,  to  which  we  are  hastening,  and  where, 
perhaps,  we  shall  perfect  much  that  has  been  begun  in  this 
])resent  life  under  circumstances  of  limitation  and  imper- 
fection which  the  Master  wishes  to  see  perfected. 

"My  affectionate  greeting  to  many  friends  in  the  grand 
state  of  Nebraska. 

"Very  sincerely  yours, 

"John  L.  Maile.^' 


RKV.     IIARMOX    HROSS,    SUPKRI  XTICXnENT  8l 

XV 

REV.    HARMON    RROSS,    D.D.,    SU IMIRI XTKNDKNT 

The  logical  successor  to  Superintendent  Maile  was  Rev. 
H.  Bross,  D.D.,  the  General  ^[issionary  of  the  state  and 
superintendent  of  the  Black  Hills  region.  His  long  service 
as  stated  clerk  of  the  association  had  kept  him  in  touch 
with  all  the  churches  of  the  state. 

At  the  request  of  the  writer,  Dr.  Bross  has  furnished  a 
brief  account  of  .some  missionary  experiences  while  he  was 
general  missionary.  These  serve  as  a  valuable  illustration 
of  the  pioneer  work  in  the  state  in  comparatively  recent 
times.     Dr.  Bross  writes  : 

"LixcoLX,  July  6,  1904. 

"After  a  pastorate  of  nearly  eleven  years  at  Crete,  ex- 
tending from  August  i,  1873,  to  February  i,  1884,  during 
which  time  the  church  increased  from  a  membership  of 
fourteen  to  185,  and  the  present  house  of  worship  was  built, 
T  entered  upon  general  missionary  work  in  northern  Ne- 
braska with  headquarters  at  Norfolk. 

"At  that  time  we  had  comparatively  few  churches  in 
the  North  Platte  region,  and  efforts  were  made  at  once  to 
extend  the  work.  The  churches  at  Wisner,  Pierce,  West 
Cedar  Valley,  and  other  points  which  were  nearly  extinct 
were  revived  and  strengthened.  Special  meetings  were 
held  in  Dixon  county,  out  of  which  the  churches  of  New- 
castle and  Daily  Branch  grew,  also  a  church  at  Martms- 
burg  now  nearly  extinct.  The  churches  at  Gloversville 
and  Park  in  Antelope  county  also  grew  out  of  this  work. 
Ainsworth  had  been  organized  but  was  nearly  extinct ;  it 
was  revived  and  Long  Pine  added.  The  churches  in  Holt 
county  were  also  gathered  the  following  summer. 
6 


REV.    HARMON    BROSS^    D.D. 

AS   DEPARTMENT    COMMANDER   G.    A.    R. 

Sixth  State  Superintendent  of  Home  Missions 


RFA^    HARMON    BROSS,    SUPERINTENDENT  83 

"During  the  session  of  the  legislature  in  1885  the  coun- 
ties of  northwestern  Nebraska  were  organized  and  a  great 
tide  of  settlement  poured  into  that  region.  In  the  early 
spring  I  made  an  exploring  expedition  into  that  region, 
visiting  the  new  towns  of  Gordon,  Rushville,  Hay  Springs, 
and  Chadron. 

"With  the  first  train  into  Chadron,  August,  1885,  I  went 
to  begin  permanent  work.  I  made  headquarters  at  Chadron 
and  soon  had-  a  gospel  tabernacle  ready  for  church  and 
Sunday  school.  On  Sunday,  September  13,  1885,  the  three 
churches  of  Rushville,  Hay  Springs,  and  Chadron  were 
recognized  by  council.  Rev.  M.  L.  Holt  of  Neligh  being 
delegate  from  that  church,  and  Mrs.  Bross  from  the  church 
at  xN'orfolk,  where  we  were  then  living. 

"Houses  of  worship  were  soon  built  at  these  three  points; 
but  later  at  Rushville,  when  the  Methodists,  Baptists,  the 
United  Presbyterians,  the  German  Methodists,  and  the 
regular  Presbyterians  all  crowded  in,  it  did  not  seem  wise 
to  continue  further  expenditure  of  home  missionary  money, 
and  that  point  was  given  up.  With  the  extension  of  the 
railroad  in  the  spring  of  1886,  chuich  work  was  established 
at  Crawford,  where  Ave  now  have  a  thriving  church  with 
a  good  brick  house  of  worship  and  parsonage  all  paid  for. 
The  church  at  Chadron  has  also  just  come  to  self-support; 
has  a  good  house  of  worship  and  parsonage  free  of  debt. 

"September  29,  1887,  the  Northwestern  Association  was 
organized  at  Chadron,  and  later  Chadron  Academy  was 
established.  The  work  then  extended  into  the  Black  Hills 
and  into  Wyoming  and  I  was  made  superintendent  of  that 
region  in  connection  with  my  north  Nebraska  work. 

"The  extension  of  the  Burlington  road  into  northwestern 
Nebraska  and  the  Black  Hills  in  1888-89  opened  another 
large  region,  and  population  began  pouring  in.  With  Hem- 
ingford  in  Box  Butte  county  as  a  center,  preaching  points 


84  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

had  been  established  throughout  the  county,  and  the  church 
at  Hemingford  was  organized  in  1886.  Then  followed 
Hyannis  and  Reno  and  these  formed  the  nucleus  oi  a  large 
group  of  churches  since  gathered  in  the  sandhills. 

"The  aim  had  been  to  have  our  churches  organized  in 
groups,  so  that  they  might  support  each  other  and  have 
fellowship  among  themselves.  With  this  in  view,  we  passed 
from  Ainsworth  150  miles  west  before  attempting  the  or- 
ganization of  another  church.  These  churches  have  proved 
very  efficient  and  fruitful  in  their  influence  for  good,  and  in 
developing  Christian  character  among  young  people  who 
have  made  themselves  strong  for  good  work.  The  church 
at  Chadron  has  made  a  good  history  in  this  respect.  The 
young  people  who  have  gone  from  there  to  college,  and 
have  become  teachers,  Christian  business  men,  home  keep- 
ers, will  date  their  first  impulses  for  the  higher  life  to  in- 
fluences emanating  from  the  church  and  academy.  One 
of  our  most  influential  international  Y.  M.  C.  A.  workers 
was  converted  in  that  church  and  started  on  his  career  of 
usefulness.  The  community  of  churches  in  the  Black  Hills 
and  in  central  Wyoming  owe  their  existence  and  their 
strength  largely  to  their  close  contact  with  this  work  in 
northwest  Nebraska. 

"An  interesting  feature  in  the  extension  of  this  work 
was  the  use  of  Gospel  tabernacles  in  the  beginning.  The 
success  of  the  one  at  Chadron  was  suggestive  of  what 
might  be  done  in  other  places,  and  in  a  short  time  the  gen- 
eral missionary  had  at  his  disposal  six  canvas  roofs  which 
might  be  used  for  gospel  tabernacles  at  various  places. 
One  of  these  had  been  purchased  at  Chadron  by  the  Sun- 
day school  of  Farmington,  Connecticut ;  another  was 
bought  by  money  given  by  the  Sunday  school  at  Milburn, 
Illinois,  and  four  were  donated  by  the  firm  of  J.  V.  Far- 
well  &  Co.,  Chicago. 


REV.    HARMOX    BROSS,    SUPERINTENDENT  85 

"At  each  place  the  use  of  a  lot  was  secured,  a  collection 
taken  to  furnish  sufficient  lumber  for  the  walls  of  the  tem- 
porary building,  and  this  was  covered  with  the  heavy  duck- 
ing. No  windows  were  needed,  and  one  small  door  allowed 
entrance  to  the  unique  structure.  In  this  way  the  church 
and  Sunday  school  had  a  home  at  once  with  regular  hours 
for  service  and  a  distinct  place  in  the  life  of  the  community. 

"One  of  these  tabernacles,  that  at  Buffalo  Gap,  was  used 
for  eighteen  months.  When  the  one  which  had  been  used 
at  Lusk  for  some  time  was  not  needed  there,  it  was  brought 
down  to  Ravenna  and  sheltered  that  church  in  its  early 
history. 

"In  December,  1889,  when  Rev.  J.  L.  Mailc  discontinued 
his  work  as  superintendent,  the  writer  was  appointed  super- 
intendent of  the  state  work  with  iieadquarters  at  Lincoln. 
When  he  entered  upon  his  work  as  general  missionary 
February  i,  1884,  the  denomination  had  148  churches  in 
the  state  with  a  total  membership  of  4,042,  with  6,390  in 
Sunday  school.  There  are  now  203  churches  with  member- 
ship of  15,212;  and  16,719  in  our  Sunday  schools. 

"Our  yearly  contributions  then  for  home  expenses  were 
$45,248;  now  $160,287.  Our  benevolences  then  were,  per 
annum,  $8,722;  now  $21,827. 

"H.  Bross." 

In  his  first  report  to  the  Home  Missionary  Society  Super- 
intendent Bross  says : 

"The  western  hali  of  our  state  presents  all  the  phases  of 
work  in  a  region  where  home  missionary  efforts  have  been 
in  progress  fifteen  or  sixteen  years.  There  are  the  same 
difficulties,  the  same  opjjortunities,  the  same  mighty  incen- 
tives to  aggressive  work.  It  is  as  yet  almost  entire  mission- 
ary   ground.      We    have    there    only    five    self-supporting 


86  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

churches,  and  but  about  thirty  in  all,  including  several  Ger- 
man churches."^ 

Superintendent  Stewart  says  in  his  report : 

"In  many  places  the  people  are  entirely  destitute  of  any 
religious  services.  The  few  Simday  schools  that  have  been 
organized  are  but  little  better  than  none,  as  ignorance  and 
infidelity  prevail  to  a  great  extent.  The  scattered  settlers 
in  those  new  communities  consist  very  largely  of  those 
classes  that  care  nothing  for  Bible  study,  and  those  who 
have  been  members  of  Sunday  schools  have  been  so  long 
without  them  that  in  many  cases  they  are  indifferent  ... 
In  all  that  region  (the  western  frontier)  there  are  but  few 
people  who  are  competent  for  officers  and  teachers,  and  of 
these  only  a  small  number  have  consecration  and  Christian 
character  sufficient  to  make  the  Sunday  school  a  success."^ 

y\nd  yet  that  year  Superintendent  Stewart  organized 
twenty-one  schools. 

The  association  of  1890  made  a  strong  protest  against 
opening  the  World's  Fair  on  Sunday,  and  a  stirring  appeal 
for  an  amendment  to  the  state  constitution  prohibiting  the 
liquor  traffic.  A  spirited  address  by  the  Rev.  A.  A.  Cress- 
man  upon  "Work  among  the  Bohemian  population  of  the 
state"  called  forth  vigorous  resolutions,  endorsing  the 
work  already  done,  and  expressing  sympathy  with  those 
engaged  in  that  service. 

As  we  contrast  this  period  with  that  of  three  decades 
preceding  we  find  similar  problems.  The  frontier  has  only 
been  pushed  to  the  western  part  of  the  state,  and  there 
the  work  is  as  truly  pioneer  as  that  in  eastern  Nebraska 
when  Father  Gaylord  began  work  on  the  banks  of  the 
Missouri.     In  1890  the  State  Missionary  Society  employed 

'Minutes,  1890,  p.  31. 
'Minutes,  1890,  p.  34. 


REV.    HARMON    BROSS,    SUPERINTENDENT  78 

two  general  missionaries,  Rev.  G.  J.  Powell  and  Rev.  George 
K.  Taylor,  to  supplement  the  work  of  the  state  super- 
intendent. 

At  this  time  the  American  Home  Missionary  Societv 
was  beginning-  to  reduce  appropriations  to  Nebraska,  and 
said : 

"Your  churches  should  be  made  deeply  to  feel  that  what- 
ever new  work  is  undertaken  must  come  from  the  savings 
of  the  old  work,  and  an  increase  in  the  contributions  to 
the  cause."'' 

It  is  not  always  understood  that  as  the  eastern  portion 
of  the  state  has  become  self-supporting,  a  vast  empire  in 
the  western  portion  has  sprung  into  being;  that  this  is 
pioneer  soil,  and  being  more  sparsely  settled  than  eastern 
Nebraska  will  remain  a  missionary  field  for  some  time  to 
come,  and  that  in  eastern  Nebraska  there  are  parishes, 
once  self-supporting,  which  on  account  of  removals  and 
changes  find  themselves  once  more  on  the  home  missionary 
list. 

The  missionary  problem  is  always  being  solved,  but  each 
year  new  elements  enter,  and  so  it  is  ever  with  us. 

THE  DROUTH 

This  period  is  also  remembered  for  the  severe  drouth 
which  devastated  homes,  ruined  the  financial  prospects  of 
many,  and  was  a  staggering  blow  to  the  growth  of  the 
churches  in  the  state.  It  was  one  of  the  elements  then 
entering  into  the  missionary  problem. 

In  alluding  to  this  severe  experience  and  emergence  into 
a  brighter  outlook  Superintendent  Bross  says : 

"The  cities  and  towns  that  contributed  money ;  the 
farmers  who  shared  their  provisions  with  others ;  the  coal 
men  who  donated  trainload  after  trainload  of  coal,  asking 

'Minutes,  1890,  p.  30. 


88  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

in  return  only  enough  to  pay  the  miner  for  his  under- 
ground work ;  the  railroads  and  express  companies  that 
transported,  free,  tons  and  tons  of  produce,  goods,  fuel, 
and  seed,  have  added  another  chapter  to  the  abundant  testi- 
mony accumulated  through  the  years,  showing  that  we  are, 
after  all,  one  family  and  responsive  to  the  same  appeals  for 
help.  We  gather  this  year  in  the  presence  of  such  abundant 
crops  of  all  sorts  that  the  transformation  seems  a  miracle 
of  Providence.  In  spite  of  losses  and  difficulties  the  year 
has  been  one  of  substantial  progress."' 

We  are  not  surprised  that  at  this  time  there  should  be 
an  unusual  number  of  changes  in  the  churches,  and  that 
vigorous  words  should  be  uttered  in  favor  of  permanence 
in  the  pastoral  office.  But  the  hopeful  spirit  which  per- 
vaded the  Fremont  meeting  of  1891  shows  the  vast  recupera- 
tive forces  resident  in  the  state. 

In  the  following  year  a  carefully  outlined  plan  for  the 
development  of  Sunday  school  work  was  presented  bv 
Superintendent  Stewart,"'  and  the  whole  work  of  the  denomi- 
nation began  to  be  more  thoroughly  unified  and  system- 
atically prosecuted. 

TRANSLATION    OF   ISAAC    HEATON 

The  Fremont  church,  and  the  churches  of  the  state  as 
well,  were  called  to  mourn  the  loss  of  the  inspiring  pres- 
ence and  wise  counsels  of  Rev.  I.  E.  Heaton  who  was  called 
to  his  eternal  home  September  17,  1893.  One  by  one  the 
early  pioneers  have  disappeared.  The  memory  of  their 
devotion  and  heroism  remains  with  us ;  their  works  do 
follow  us ; 

"  But,  oh,  for  tlie  touch  of  a  vanished  hand 
And  the  sound  of  a  voice  that  is  still." 

^Minutes,  1891,  p.  50. 
'Minutes,  1892,  p.  37. 


Rev.  S.  X.  Grout 
Rev.  Wm.  Leavitt 


Rev.  W.  P.  Bennett 
Rev.  B.  Diffenbaclier 


go  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

Mrs.  Heaton  passed  to  her  reward  August  8,  1905,  aged 
ninety-three  years.  Dr.  Geo.  L.  Miller  of  Omaha,  one  of 
the  first  trustees  of  the  First  Church,  still  remains  with 
us,  but  there  are  not  many  who  can  tell  of  the  first 
beginnings  of  pioneer  work  in  the  state.  It  is  the  second 
generation  of  workers  who  are  now  called  pioneers.  But 
all  have  partaken  of  the  same  spirit  and  are  doing  a  noble 
work  in  the  development  of  a  Christian  state. 

A  TYPICAL  MEETING 

The  practical  treatment  of  live  questions  is  characteristic 
of  the  State  Association.  This  was  well  illustrated  in  the 
Beatrice  meeting  of  1893,  with  these  topics  for  discussion: 
"Morals  involved  in  the  coinage  question,"  by  Rev.  W.  P. 
Bennett ;  "Morals  involved  in  the  labor  question,"  by  Rev. 
Wilson  Denney ;  "Morals  involved  in  the  immigration  ques- 
tion," by  Rev.  John  Power;  "The  evils  resulting  from  short 
pastorates  and  how  they  may  be  remedied,"  by  Rev.  H.  A. 
French;  "Why  are  not  more  young  men  in  the  Sunday 
school?"  by  Rev.  T.  W.  DeLong;  "More  systematic  and 
thorough  instruction  in  Sunday  school,"  by  Rev.  John 
Doane ;  "How  to  secure  trained  and  efficient  superintend- 
ents," by  Rev.  A.  G.  Washington ;  and  "Are  our  churches 
doing  their  wliole  duty  toward  destitute  places  within  their 
reach?"  by  Rev.  C.  W.  Preston. 

This  meeting  was  selected  at  random  from  among  the 
later  meetings  of  the  association,  and  the  topics  show,  as 
do  those  of  other  meetings,  that  it  is  practical  rather  than 
doctrinal  questions  in  which  our  churches  are  especially 
interested,  although  the  doctrinal  is  not  eliminated  from 
the  thought  and  life  of  western  Congregationalism,  and  it 
only  takes  the  occasion  to  bring  it  to  the  front.  Life  was 
real  and  earnest,  and  the  churches  of  the  state  were,  in 
the  very  struggle  for  existence,  compelled  to  face  stern 
every-day  problems. 


REV.    HARMON   UROSS,  SUPERINTENDENT  9I 

THE    SECOND   DROUTH 

The  drouth  again  blasted  the  crops  and  the  hopes  of  the 
people.  The  state  superintendent's  report  at  the  Crete 
meeting,  18(^5,  had  a  more  pitiful  story  of  hardships  and 
loss  than  the  one  some  years  before,  but  with  it  a  glad  re- 
frain of  thanksgiving  on  account  of  the  practical  and  gen- 
erous sympathy  of  the  outside  world. 

"True  to  its  genius  and  its  history,  Congregationalism 
did  its  work,  not  for  itself  but  for  the  community.  Carloads 
of  coal  and  flour  were  wisely  and  carefully  distributed  in 
homes  where  the  only  condition  was  that  of  need.  These 
offerings  of  clothing,  provisions,  and  money  came  from  all 
parts  of  the  country,  from  Maine  to  California,  and  from 
North  Dakota  to  Alabama.  .  .  .  These  offerings  were 
distributed  in  the  counties  of  Antelope,  Boyd,  Brown,  Cus- 
ter, Dav/son,  Franklin,  Frontier,  Garfield,  Grant,  Harlan, 
Hayes,  Hitchcock,  Holt,  Keya  Paha,  Knox,  Lincoln,  Loup, 
Merrick,  Perkins,  Phelps,  Platte,  Red  Willow,  Webster, 
Wheeler";  and  adds  Superintendent  Bross,  "I  believe  it 
will  surprise  you  all,  no  matter  how  carefully  you  have  been 
observing  the  changes  among  us,  when  I  say  that  although 
the  hardships  of  the  year  have  been  unparalleled  in  the  his- 
tory of  our  state,  only  four  of  our  home  missionaries  have 
left  the  state  during  the  year.  ...  Of  our  vacant 
churches,  correspondence  is  under  way  looking  to  the 
support  of  nearly  all.  There  are  only  two  or  three  that 
have  been  entirely  without  supply  during  the  year."" 

There  is  hopefulness  also  in  the  Sunday  school  report  of 
Superintendent  Stewart  for  the  same  year:  "Our  corres- 
pondents write  that  whole  families  come  to  Sunday  school 
now  who  never  could  be  induced  to  attend  before.    One  lady 

'Minutes,  1895,  pp.  28,  29. 


92  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

says,  'Men  who  were  scoffers,  and  who  made  Hght  of  the 
lesson  quarterlies,  calling  them  almanacs,  are  now  regular 
attendants  upon  the  Sunday  school  and  students  of  those 
same  quarterlies.'  This  is  certainly  some  compensation  for 
the  shortage  in  crops  during  the  last  three  years.  Possibly 
this  is  the  purpose  of  God's  providence  in  withholding  the 
rain.  .  .  'Neither  tribulation,  nor  distress,  nor  persecu- 
tion, nor  famine,  nor  nakedness,  nor  peril,  nor  sword,  can 
separate  them  from  the  work  that  God  has  given  them  to 
do.'  "^ 

In  these  later  years  we  have  had  an  abundance  of  rain ; 
they  have  been  "years  of  plenty,"  and  the  work  of  our 
Congregational  Zion  has  been  making  steady  progress. 

The  annual  appropriations  for  missionary  work  have  been 
gradually  reduced,  and  the  work  steadily  advanced,  and 
yet  we  could  wisely  expend  double  what  we  receive. 

DR.    CROFTS   ON   THE    WATCH    TOWER 

The  Committee  on  State  of  Religion,  Dr.  George  W. 
Crofts,  chairman,  at  the  David  City  meeting,  1898,  gave 
a  happy  expression  to  the  outlook  in  Nebraska  then.  With 
an  increase  in  figures  quoted  it  is  applicable  to  the  outlook 
in  1905. 

"As  you  open  the  gate  of  the  year  and  look  over  the  field 
of  Congregational  Nebraska,  what  do  you  see?  You  see 
our  state  superintendent,  our  apostles,  going  about  as  they 
did  in  early  days,  strengthening  the  churches,  flying  as 
compared  with  the  means  of  transportation  in  those  days, 
like  the  angel  of  the  Apocalypse  with  the  everlasting 
Gospel.  You  see  105  pastors  and  preachers  shepherding 
their  various  flocks  comprising  the  sum  total  of  over  13,000 
souls.    You  see  these  men,  men  of  culture,  men  of  consecra- 

'  Minutes,  1895,  pp.  40,  41. 


REV.    HARMON   BROSS,  SUPERINTENDENT  93 

tion,  men  of  God,  self-sacrificing.  pra)erful,  faithful,  and 
efficient.  Vou  see  an  army  of  over  15,000  Sunday  school 
children  hchv^;  matured  in  the  Christian  faith.  You  see 
6,000  Christian  Endeavorers,  not  only  being  trained  for  act- 
ive service  in  the  cause  of  Christ,  but  doing  service  for 
Him  that  is  telling  on  the  spirituality  and  energy  of  the 
church  for  great  good.  You  see  our  colleges  and  academies 
promoting  Christian  education,  and  presenting  year  by  year 
a  company  of  young  men  and  women  to  the  Master  for  His 
work  in  the  world  in  every  avenue  of  life.  You  see  nearly 
a  thousand  born  from  above  coming  into  the  Church  on 
confession  of  faith.  You  see  increased  benevolences.  You 
see  debts  melting  away  like  snow  banks  in  spring.  You 
see  silvery  streams  of  Congregational,  Christian  literature 
irrigating  the  moral  soil  of  the  state  and  making  the  desert 
with  its  sage-brush  of  sensuality  bloom  like  a  garden.  You 
see  all  this  activity  and  faithfulness.  You  see  unity  and 
peace  and  fraternity  and  fellowship,  and  that  charity  which 
edifieth.  You  see  less  restlessness  and  more  contentment 
amongst  pastors  and  people.  You  see  a  tendency  toward 
longer  pastorates,  and  hence  a  larger  degree  of  confidence 
and  forbearance,  more  of  Christ  and  less  of  criticism.  You 
see  all  these  factors  working  harmoniously  together,  work- 
ing as  though  impelled  by  a  divine  principle.  And  then  you 
ask,  'What  is  the  state  of  religion  in  Nebraska?' 

"There  is  a  dark  side,  but  there  is  a  bright  side,  and  it  is 
encouraging  to  look  at  it.  Even  the  dark  side  is  bright 
compared  with  what  has  been  seen  in  the  past  history  of 
the  Church,  in  the  times  of  Savonarola,  of  Luther,  and  of 
Wesley.    Let  iis  thank  God  and  take  courage."^ 

Nebraska  is  looking  up  and  reaching  out,  ready  to  seize 
any-  new  opportunity  to  extend  more  widely  the  Kingdom 
which  is  within  it. 

'Minutes,  1S9S,  p.  28. 


94  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

XVI 

RECENT    DECLARATIONS 

The  deliberations  of  a  body  of  Christian  men  and  their 
mature  conchisions  reflect  in  large  measure  the  thought  and 
life  of  the  people  whom  they  represent.  . 

We  have  seen  how  in  the  early  days  of  our  histor}^  Con- 
gregational Nebraskans  were  keenly  alive  to  all  that  was 
going  on  in  their  own  midst  and  in  the  country  at  large. 
Recent  declarations  in  the  meetings  of  the  State  Associa- 
tion show  the  same  characteristics. 

The  Ashland  meeting,  1889,  appointed  a  committee,  Rev. 
M.  L.  Holt,  chairman,  to  report  upon  "The  religious  and 
moral  condition  of  our  army" ;  originally  to  "cooperate  with 
army  chaplains  for  the  better  welfare  of  our  soldiers." 
This  committee  at  the  Fremont  meeting,  1891,  reported  the 
following,  which  was  adopted : 

"To  the  Nebraska  delegation  of  Honorable  Senators  and 
Representatives  in  the  United  States  Congress: 
"Gentlemen — We,  the  Congregational  churches  and  min- 
isters of  Nebraska,  in  Annual  State  Association  assembled, 
recognizing  our  obligation  to  the  national  army  and  navy 
for  their  moral  and  spiritual  training  and  development,  do 
most  respectfully  urge  upon  you  the  importance  of  the 
passage  of  the  bill  entitled  'An  act  to  increase  the  number 
of  chaplains  in  the  army  of  the  United  States ;  to  define  their 
duties  and  increase  their  efficiency.'  We  do,  moreover,  pray 
that  a  moral  condition  of  promotion  be  at  once  established 
in  the  army  and  navy,  whereby  no  man  of  immoral  charac- 
ter of  any  rank  shall  be  promoted  over  one  of  pnre  moral 
character.    This  we  do  in  order  that  everv  incentive  be  used 


RECENT  DFXLARATIONS  95 

to  encourage  the  army  and  navy  to  combine  in  an  effort  to 
remove  from  among-  them  the  debasing  immoral  practices 
which  to  so  large  an  extent  prevail."^ 

\n  the  '90s  our  churches  were  considerably  interested  in 
the  Chautauqua  movement,  and  maintained  for  some  years 
an  assembly  at  Crete.  Many  have  regretted  that  the  as- 
semblv  was  ever  given  up.  This  is  what  was  said  of  the 
movement  at  the  Omaha  meeting,  1892: 

"Whereas,  The  Chautauqua  movement  has  proven  to 
be  strongly  helpful  to  our  churches,  Sunday  schools,  Bible 
students,  and  Christian  workers ;  and 

"Whereas,  The  Crete  assembly  has  special  claims  on 
us  as  a  denomination,  therefore 

"Resolved,  That  we  commend  to  our  ministers  and 
churches  the  wisdom  of  promoting  local  training  classes  in 
harmony  with  the  assembly  work,  of  preaching  an  annual 
sermon  in  the  interests  of  the  Chautauqua  endeavor,  of  se- 
curing a  large  attendance  at  the  summer  assembly,  and  of 
acquiring  a  proprietary  interest  by  the  purchase  of  as- 
sembly stock."- 

The  Crete  assembly  had  the  reputation  of  presenting  an- 
nual ]:)rograms  of  high  order  of  merit ;  and  from  the  stand- 
point of  literary,  moral,  and  spiritual  benefit  was  a  great 
success. 

The  management  secured  men  of  national  reputation  to 
lecture  from  its  platform ;  but  as  a  financial  venture  it 
failed,  and  after  a  few  years'  trial  was  given  up.  It  is  a 
question  well  worth  considering,  if  the  time  has  not  now 
come  when  the  denomination  should  take  up  some  phases 
of  Bible  study,  normal  training  and  correlated  subjects  in  a 
summer  assembly  established  at  a  center  like  Lincoln,  where 
a  larger  attendance  could  be  secured  with  better  financial 

'Minutes,  1891,  pp.  11,  12. 
'Minutes,  1892,  p.  18. 


96  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

prospects.     The  difficulty  is  in  reviving  an  effort  which  has 
once  failed  for  want  of  financial  support. 

The  association  at  its  meeting  in  1891  appointed  Rev. 
John  Power,  Dr.  Joseph  T.  Duryea,  and  Rev.  Lewis  Greg- 
ory a  Committee  on  Divorce  Legislation.  The  next  year 
this  committee  made  the  following  report,  which  was 
adopted : 

"To   the  General  Association   of  Congregational  Chnrches 
of  Nebraska: 

"Your  Committee  on  Divorce  Legislation  recommend  that 
the  following  petition  be  presented  to  the  legislature  of  the 
state  of  Nebraska : 
"'To  the  Honorable  Legislature  of  the  State  of  A'ebraska: 

"  'Whereas,  By  the  law  of  the  state  no  remedy  is  pro- 
vided for  a  deserted  husband  or  wife  within  the  space  of 
two  years  from  the  date  of  desertion,  and  then  only  by  an 
action  for  divorce ;  and, 

"  'Whereas,  Alimony,  when  allowed,  is  to  be  collected 
only  as  a  civil  debt,  and  consequently,  in  most  cases,  not  to 
be  collected  at  all ;  and, 

"  'Whereas,  Marriage,  followed  by  immediate  desertion, 
is  the  easiest  method  of  escape  for  an  unmarried  man  from 
the  conseciuences  of  an  action  for  seduction  or  bastardy, 
and  has  been  frequently  performed  for  that  very  purpose; 
and, 

"  'Whereas,  A  divorce  may  be  obtained  from  an  absent 
respondent  where  due  diligence  has  not  been  used  to  notify 
such  respondent  that  action  for  divorce  has  been  com- 
menced ; 

"  'Therefore,  we,  the  undersigned,  do  respectfully  petition 
your  honorable  body  that  during  your  present  session  such 
Emendation  of  the  law  may  be  made  as  shall 

"  'First — Make  desertion  on  the  part  of  a  married  person 
a  penal  offense. 


RECENT  DECLARATIONS  97 

"  'Second — Subject  a  man  ai^ainst  whom  desertion  has 
been  proven  to  the  same  conditions  as  one  against  whom 
bastardy  has  been  proven. 

"  'Third — Give  this  remedy  independent  of  any  action  for 
divorce. 

"  'P'ourth — Prohibit  proceeding  in  any  action  for  divorce 
until  due  (Hhgence  has  been  used  to  bring  the  respondent 
into  court. 

"  'And  your  petitioners  will  ever  pray.' 

"Your  committee  further  recommend  that  this  petition 
be  presented  to  the  legislature  by  a  delegation  from  this 
association,  and  that  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  and  other  associa- 
tions be  invited  to  cooperate  in  urging  the  matter  upon  the 
legislature."" 

Some  of  the  evils  petitioned  against  have  been  removed 
by  recent  legislation,  jmd  desertion  in  some  cases  is  made 
a  criminal  offense,  and  in  other  ways  the  law  has  been 
improved. 

Spirited  resolutions  are  sent  to  the  President  of  the 
United  States,  requesting  that  vigorous  measures  be  taken 
to  protect  American  citizens,  and  maintain  the  treaty  rights 
in  the  Ottoman  Empire.* 

Again 

"Recognizing  the  increased  activity  of  the  Alormon 
church,  and  the  aggressiveness  on  the  part  of  the  polyga- 
mous propaganda,  be  it  therefore 

"Resolved,  That  we  hereby  most  respectfully  call  upon 
our  United  States  Senators  and  Representatives  to  use 
their  utmost  endeavor  to  secure  early  action  by  Congress 
proposing  an  amendment  to  our  Federal  Constitution  for- 
ever prohibiting  the  practice  of  polygamy  in  any  place  sub- 

'  Minutes,  1892,  pp.  19,  20. 
*  Minutes,  1896,  p.  14. 
7 


98  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

ject  to  our  governraental  jurisdiction,  and  providing  for  the 
disfranchisement  of  those  who  are  guilty  of  this  crinie."^ 

Some  years  ago  a  plan  of  church  union  of  all  Protestant 
bodies  in  this  country  was  proposed.  It  was  called  the  New 
Jersey  Plan  and  was  considered  by  the  Nebraska  churches 
during  1894  and  1895,  but  the  association  came  to  the  con- 
clusion that  "We  are  unable  to  find  a  feasible  way  to  such 
unity  in  what  is  known  as  the  New  Jersey  Plan.'"^ 

The  time,  in  the  estimation  of  the  association,  had  not 
come  to  agitate  the  question  of  the  organic  union  of  the 
Protestant  bodies,  but  the  Plan  itself  is  of  interest.  The 
essential  features  of  this  plan  are  stated  by  Dr.  A.  H.  Brad- 
ford of  New  Jersey  in  a  letter  dated  January  6,  1905 : 

"The  New  Jersey  Plan  for  the  Union  of  Protestant 
Evangelical  Churches  was  based  on  four  proposals  namely : 
I,  The  acceptance  of  the  Scriptures  of  the  Old  and  New 
Testaments,  inspired  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  as  containing  all 
things  necessary  to  salvation,  and  as  being  the  real  and  ulti- 
mate standard  of  Christian  faith.  2,  The  discipleship  of 
Jesus  Christ,  the  Divine  Lord  and  Savior,  and  the  teacher 
of  the  world.  3,  The  Church  of  Christ,  which  is  His  body, 
whose  mission  it  is  to  preach  the  Gospel  to  the  world.  4, 
Liberty  of  conscience  in  the  interpretation  of  the  Scriptures 
and  in  the  administration  of  the  Church. 

"I  have  iiot  given  the  proposals  in  the  exact  form  in  which 
they  were  originally  presented,  but  in  their  substance.  You 
will  find  them  in  the  Minutes  of  the  National  Council  of 
1895,  page  36. 

"Very  sincerely  yours, 

"Amory  H.  Bradford." 

The  plan  of  churcli  union  in  some  form  has,  however, 
been  kept  before  the  Church,  and  the  action  of  the  National 

'Minutes,  1900,  p.  17. 
•Minutes,  1895,  p.  14. 


KliCIiNT  DliCLARATIUNS  99 

Council,  October,  1904,  in  adopting  the  report  of  the  com- 
mittee appointed  in  1901  to  confer  with  other  denomina- 
tions, especially  the  United  Brethren  and  Methodist  Prot- 
estants, has  made  this  a  live  question,  and  it  is  possible 
that  some  kind  of  federation  may  be  adopted  in  which  these 
denominations,  together  with  the  Free  Baptists  and  Con- 
grcgationalists,  may  come  into  much  closer  fellowship,  and 
perhaps  eventually  mto  organic  union.  This  is  for  the 
churches  of  all  the  denominations  to  say.  There  can  be  no 
coercion.  Local  and  state  bodies  are  discussing  it.  De- 
nominations are  coming  closer  together,  but  there  are  many 
obstacles  to  be  overcome  before  organic  union  can  be 
realized.  The  readjustment  of  missionary  boards  and 
church  papers,  of  publishing  houses  and  Sunday  school  lit- 
erature, is  a  tremendous  undertaking ;  but  this  is  a  simple 
]M-obleni  as  compared  with  that  of  bringing  the  individual 
churches  into  line  with  the  movement,  and  ''delivering  the 
goods."  There  will  doubtless  be  a  cleavage  when  it  is  under- 
taken. Some  United  Brethren  and  Methodist  Protestants 
will  prefer  the  M.  E.  Church  to  the  proposed  Union  Church ; 
some  Congregationalists  will  prefer  to  remain  Independent ; 
and  so  there  is  a  danger  of  the  proposed  union  of  denomina- 
tions resulting  in  the  organization  of  still  another,  and  the 
weakening  of  those  that  remain.  Much  will  depend  on  the 
skill,  wisdom,  and  patience  of  the  leaders  in  the  movement. 
Congregational  Nebraska  at  the  Geneva  meeting,  1903. 
unanimously  adopted  the  following  resolutions,  which  may 
be  said  fairly  to  represent  the  thought  and  desires  of  our 
churches : 

"Whereas,  There  is  at  the  present  time  a  movement  look- 
ing toward  a  closer  federation  and  possibly  organic  union 
of  different  denominations  with  the  Congregational  body; 
therefore 


lOO  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

"Resolved,  That  we  hail  hopefully  the  movement  for  a 
closer  association  with  sister  denominations,  trusting  to  find 
in  it  the  begmning  of  that  consummation  of  Christian  fel- 
lowship so  long  desired  and  prayed  for  by  the  Church.  The 
end  sought  is  worth  sacrifice,  and  while  we  still  cherish  the 
constitutive  principles  of  our  order — the  independence  of 
the  local  church,  and  the  fellowship  of  the  churches — with  a 
conviction  too  profound  to  be  surrendered,  we  stand  ready 
to  sink  personal  preferences  and  all  non-essentials  of  method 
and  tradition  that  we  may  strike  hands  in  love  and  labor 
with  the  voider  fellowship. 

"Resolved,  That  it  should  be  the  aim  of  our  churches  to 
strengthen  the  denomination  through  the  development  of  an 
inner  life,  and  the  application  to  all  our  work  of  those  his- 
toric ideas  which  have  left  such  a  profound  and  beneficial 
influence  upon  the  development  of  oiu"  national  life,  as  well 
as  upon  the  educational  and  spiritual  life  of  our  churches. 

"Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  these  resolutions  be  sent  to 
the  next  National  Council  as  a  testimony  of  the  position 
of  our  churches  in  the  state  of  Nebraska."' 

These  represent  a  friendly  attitude  toward  a  closer  affilia- 
tion of  Christian  workers  in  all  denominations,  but  em- 
phasize the  need  of  the  "development  of  an  inner  life,  and 
the  application  to  all  our  work  of  those  historic  ideas  which 
have  left  such  a  profound  and  beneficial  influence  upon  the 
development  of  our  national  life,  as  well  as  upon  the  educa- 
tional and  spiritual  life  of  our  churches." 

Tlie  same  Geneva  meeting  in  connection  with  the  preced- 
ing adopted  the  following  resolutions  on  the  Bible  Society  ; 
Labor  and  Capital ;  Temperance  and  the  Observance  of  the 
Lord's  Day : 


'Minutes,  1903,  p.  31. 


RECliM  DliCLAKATlONS  lOI 

"Whereas,  The  American  Dible  Society,  throu.y^h  its  trans- 
lation of  the  Holy  Scriptures  into  many  languages  and  the 
distribution  of  the  same  in  mission  fields,  has  become  an 
indispensaliie  agenc\'  in  the  (le\eloi)ment  of  our  riiissionary 
v.'ork ;  therefore  l)e  it 

"Resolved,  That  we  heartily  commend  the  American 
Bible  Society  to  our  churches  as  worthy  their  mural  and 
financial  support. 

''Resolved,  That  it  is  tlie  sense  of  this  association  that 
the  Bible  Society  should  also  print  the  very  best  English 
version,  and  we  therefore  respectfully  request  that  the  so- 
ciety publish  the  American  Revised  Version  of  the  Holy 
Scriptures  for  general  distribution. 

"Resolved.  That  the  state  registrar  be  requested  to  send 
a  copy  of  these  resolutions  to  the  officers  of  the  Bible  Society 
in  New  York. 

"Resolved,  That  without  at  present  expressing  ourselves 
as  to  the  merits  of  the  controversy  between  organized  labor 
and  capital,  we  heartily  approve  of  the  appointment  by  the 
National  Council  of  a  labor  committee  to  inquire  into  the 
facts  as  to  labor  and  its  relation  to  capital  and  to  the 
churches,  and  recommend  the  appointment  by  this  body  of 
a  committee  to  cooperate  with  the  national  committee  as 
requested. 

"Whereas,  We  recognize  in  the  use  of  alcoholic  liquors, 
and  in  their  agent,  tlie  liquor  traffic,  after  sin  in  the  heart, 
the  most  destructive  foe  to  the  progress  of  the  Kingdom  of 
our  Redeemer  in  the  hearts  and  lives  of  men ;  be  it 

"Resolved,  i,  That  we  pledge  ourselves  to  favor  total 
abstinence  on  the  part  of  individuals  and  total  prohibition 
of  the  traffic  on  the  part  of  the  state  and  nation. 

"2,  That  working  toward  this  we  favor  vigorous  presen- 
tation of  the  evils  of  intemperance  and  vigorous  enforce- 
ment of  existing  laws,  and  as  rapidly  as  possible  the  enact- 


I02  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

ment  of  new  restrictive  measures  until  the  traffic  is  wholly 
outlawed." 

"We  deplore  the  growing  laxity  in  the  observance  of  the 
Lord's  Day  and  urge  upon  our  ministers  and  churches  the 
necessity  of  recovering  the  reverent  regard  for  the  Lord's 
]Day  so  valuable  to  family  life  and  to  the  Kingdom  of 
Christ." 

The  Lincoln  meeting,  October,  1904,  was  alive  to  the 
inhuman  treatment  of  the  natives  in  the  Congo  valley  and 
adopted  the  following  resolution : 

"In  view  of  charges  made  by  responsible  parties  that 
grossest  outrages  are  being  perpetrated  upon  the  native 
people  of  the  Congo  valley,  reducing  them  in  many  in- 
stances practically  to  a  condition  of  slavery, 

"Resolved,  That  the  General  Association  of  the  Con- 
gregational Churches  of  Nebraska  urges  upon  Congress  a 
thorough  investigation  of  the  charges  made  against  the 
authorities  of  the  independent  state  of  the  Congo,  to  the 
end  that  if  such  charges  are  found  to  be  true,  the  United 
States  unite  with  other  western  powers  to  secure  to  the 
native  people  of  the  Congo  the  humane  and  just  govern- 
ment which  is  their  right." 

In  all  these,  and  in  other  declarations,  the  churches  of 
the  state  show  an  active  interest  in  the  questions  which 
affect  not  only  the  denomination  but  our  common  humanity 
as  well.  Congregational  churches  would  be  untrue  to  their 
historic  life  if  they  failed  to  keep  in  touch  with  the  great 
movements  in  thought  and  life  which  characterize  the  pres- 
ent century.  A  new  and  interior  state  feels  the  throb  of  this 
vigorous  life  as  well  as  those  states  nearer  the  great  com- 
mercial centers  of  the  country. 


CENTRALIZATION  IO3 

XVII 

CENTRALIZATION 

Interested  as  our  churches  arc  in  the  movement  looking 
toward  a  closer  affiliation  with  other  denominations,  it  is 
even  more  interested  in  the  trend  of  thought  and  action  in 
favor  of  a  more  centralized  government.  There  has  been. 
mucli  discussion  of  late  of  some  one  or  more  phases  of  this 
question. 

Congregationalists  "to  the  manner  born"  and  those  who 
have  drunk  deep  of  the  historic  spirit  of  the  denomination 
will  hardly  surrender  their  freedom  for  a  centralized  gov- 
ernment, acting  with  authority  and  assuming  legislative 
functions.  It  is  the  independence  of  the  local  church  to 
conduct  and  manage  its  own  affairs,  subject  only  to  the 
laws  of  fellowship,  which  makes  pulpits  in  our 
churches  so  attractive  to  ministers  in  other  denomina- 
tions. We  rejoice  in  our  independence,  but  we  are  not  In- 
dependents;  we  are  Congregationalists,  because  we  are 
bound  together  by  the  law  of  fcUoivship.  We  shall  see 
how  the  application  of  this  principle  may  work  out  the 
unification  of  the  churches,  without  surrendering  our  first 
constitutive  principle,  the  independence  of  the  local  church. 
It  is  also  historically  shown  that  our  freedom  has  been  as 
valuable  a  safeguard  to  the  orthodox  faith  of  the  churches, 
colleges,  and  theological  seminaries  as  the  more  centralized 
government  of  other  denominations. 

On  the  other  hand,  it  is  felt  that  if,  as  a  body  of  churches, 
we  can  work  in  closer  touch  with  one  another,  we  may 
largely  increase  our  efficiency  in  the  Kingdom  of  God. 

It  was  to  secure  this  that  Congregational  Nebraska  at 
its    Geneva    meeting,    1903,    appointed    a    State    Advisory 


I04  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

Board,  which  has  been  widely  commented  upon  in  the  re- 
Hgious  press.  The  board  is  an  experiment  in  Nebraska 
CongregationaHsm,  and  will  be  continued  only  as  it  proves 
that  it  has  a  mission  for  good,  a  mission  in  harmony  with 
the  genius  of  our  polity,  in  the  development  of  a  vigorous, 
healthful  church  life  dominated  by  the  dcuiocratic  spirit  in 
fcllozvsliip  with  the  best  thought  and  life  of  the  churches. 

After  a  year's  trial  the  churches  at  the  Lincoln  meeting, 
October,  1904,  with  only  one  dissenting  vote,  gave  their 
most  hearty  approval  of  the  work  of  the  board,  and  en- 
larged its  membership  from  three  to  five  members.  It  has 
done  mucli  in  helping  pastorless  churches  to  secure  minis- 
ters ;  in  planning  for  fellowship  meetings,  evangelistic  ser- 
vices, and  in  other  v.^ays  promoting  Congregational  interests. 
The  board  is  the  child  of  the  fertile  brain  of  the  large-* 
hearted  pastor  of  the  First  Church  in  Omaha,  Rev.  H.  C. 
Herring,  D.D. 

The  following  resolutions  and  explanatory  statement, 
adopted  by  the  association,  were  prepared  and  introduced 
by  him,  and  are  here  given  in  full  because  of  their  historic 
value : 

"Resolved,  i,  That  there  be  appointed  by  this  associa- 
tion two  of  its  number  who,  with  the  State  Superintendent 
of  Missions,  shall  constitute  a  body  to  be  known  as  the 
State  Advisory  ]]oard ;  one  of  the  two  named  to  be  chosen 
for  one  year  and  one  for  two  years,  and  hereafter  one  to  be 
chosen  each  year  for  a  term  of  two  years. 

"2,  That  this  board  be  instructed  to  associate  with  itself 
at  its  discretion,  and  as  may  be  arranged  with  the  Home 
Mission  Board,  the  General  Missionary  of  the  state  in  order 
that  his  work  may  be  coordinated  with  its  own. 

"3,  That  this  board  be  charged  with  the  duty  of  aiding 
the  churches  of  the  state  in  their  work  in  all  ways  within 
its  power,  so  far  as  they  are  willing  to  accept  such  aid. 


CKNTRxVLIZATION  1 05 

Especially  is  it  charged  to  seek  to  he  helpful  to  the  churches 
in  the  following-  particulars : 

"a.  The  promotion  of  evangelistic  effort  through  the 
services  of  the  general  missionary,  through  the  introduction 
of  other  evangelists  in  whom  it  has  confidence,  and  through 
the  culti\-ati(in  of  the  e\angelistic  spirit. 

"b.  The  settlement  of  pastors  hy  placing  at  the  disposal 
(^t  vacant  churches  the  information  it  may  possess  or  may 
(jhtain  concerning  ai>plicants,  by  seeking  to  bring  good  men 
into  the  state,  and  by  endeavoring  through  personal  con- 
ference to  guide  the  churches  in  wise  methods  of  seeking 
pastors. 

"c.  The  strengthening  of  weak  fields  through  the  con- 
centration of  workers  in  them  for  brief  periods. 

"(/.  The  investigation  of  eligible  localities  and  the  de- 
velopment of  Congregational  churches  there  when  feasible. 

"c.  The  cultivation  of  systematic  and  effective  methods 
of  missionary  giving  among  the  churches. 

"/•  The  promotion  of  the  circulation  of  our  denomina- 
tional literature  among  the  churches. 

".ij".  The  furthering  of  tmion  locally  between  our  churches 
and  the  Methodist  Protestant  and  I'^nited  brethren  churches 
wherever  it  may  seem  desirable. 

"4,  The  itiembers  of  this  board  shall  be  chosen  by  ballot 
from  six  names  to  be  submitted  b\-  the  nominating  com- 
mittee. In  subsequent  years  the  number  submitted  shall  be 
three,  from  whom  one  shall  be  chosen. 

''ex pla  n atorv  statem  ent 

"The  aim  of  the  accompanying  resoltitions  is  five-fold  : 
"i.     To   secure   for  the   .State  Association  a  continuous 
executive  agency,  speaking  with  such  authority  as  is  com- 
patible with  our  independent  polity.    There  would  thus  come 
to  be  in  tiiiie  a  consciousness  amont'"  the  churches  that  our 


I06  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

work  has  a  unity  and  coherence  of  which  they  are  largely 
unconscious  now. 

"2.  To  secure  a  definite  instrumentality  for  furthering 
the  lines  of  eft'ort  mentioned  in  the  resolution,  such  further- 
ance being  made  possible  by  the  fact  that  two  of  the  board 
give  their  whole  time  to  the  work  and  the  other  two  con- 
stant oversight  and  counsel  and  it  is  expected  some  measure 
of  personal  activity. 

"3.  To  reinforce  the  home  mission  superintendent  in  all 
the  relations  which  he  now  sustains  to  the  home  missionary 
churches,  and  to  extend  the  same  relationship  of  advisory 
helpfulness  to  the  self-supporting  churches. 

"4.  To  protect  the  churches  against  unworthy  ministers 
and  evangelists  and  to  attract  worthy  men  to  the  state. 

"5.  To  promote  the  organizations  of  Congregational 
churches  in  the  many  promising  fields  now  open  to  us 
throughout  the  state. 

"The  reasons  for  the  existence  of  such  a  board  are  three- 
fold: 

"i.  The  acknowledged  weakness  of  our  churches  in  all 
enterprises  calling  for  united  efifort  and  the  frequent  laxness 
with  which  the  afifairs  of  the  local  church  are  managed. 

'■2.  The  fact  that  in  our  whole  state  system  there  is  but 
one  common  and  continuous  meeting  point  for  the  churches, 
viz.,  the  home  mission  superintendent,  and  he,  of  course,  is 
unrelated  to  the  self-supporting  churches  and  can  not 
possibly  compass  much  beyond  the  routine  duties  which  de- 
mand attention  in  connection  with  the  churches  under  his 
care. 

"3.  The  fact  that  the  value  of  an  advisory  or  executive 
agency  is  in  proportion  to  its  permanence  and  prominence 
before  the  eyes  of  the  churches. 

"For  this  reason  the  resolutions  suggest  that  the  functions 
of  the  Evangelistic  and  the  Benevolence  Committee  be  con- 


CENTRALIZATION  IO7 

ceiitratcd  in  this  committee  in  connection  with  its  other 
duties.  It  is  hoped  that  an  agency  such  as  this  might  in 
process  of  time  exercise  an  important  influence  in  l)ringing 
our  state  to  self-support."^ 

In  adopting  this  measure  the  General  Association  ap- 
pointed as  members  of  the  Advisory  Board:  Rev.  H.  C. 
Herring,  D.D.,  Rev.  J.  W.  Cowan,  D.D.,  and  Supt.  H. 
Bross,  D.D.  The  following  year  Rev.  G.  W.  Mitchell  and 
Rev.  V.  F.  Clark  were  elected  additional  members.  The 
work  of  the  board  will  be  watched  with  growing  interest 
by  the  churches.  There  are  those  who  think  that  in  this 
board,  or  some  development  of  it,  we  have  the  happy  solu- 
tion of  the  more  "centralized  government"  which  some  be- 
lieve is  necessary  to  the  vigorous  prosecution  of  our  church 
work.  It  is  the  "Nebraska  Idea."  How  far  it  may  enter 
into  the  life  of  the  churches  in  other  states  remains  to  be 
seen. 

It  will  be  noted  that  this  is  an  effort  to  unify  the  churches 
and  secure  greater  efficiency  along  the  line  of  a  command- 
ing fellowship,  and  not  through  a  legislative  body  with  au- 
thority over  the  churches.  It  is  doubtful  if  we  ever  go 
beyond  this.  And  whatever  centralization  the  churches 
may  sanction  will  be  along  Congregational,  not  Presbyterial 
nor  Episcopal  lines. 

ECCLESIASTICAL   .STANDING 

The  development  of  the  constitutive  principle  of  fellow- 
ship has  placed  an  emphasis  on  the  ecclesiastical  standing 
of  churches  and  ministers  in  the  association  of  churches. 
This  is  thoroughly  Congregational. 

A  church  can  not  organize  itself,  call  whomsoever  it  will 
as  pastor  regardless  of  moral  and  doctrinal  fitness,  and  then 
say  "We  are  a  Congregational  church,  and  our  pastor  is  a 

'  Minutes,  1903,  pp.  8-10. 


H.  C.  Herring,  D.D. 
J.  W.  Cowan,  D.D. 


Rev.  G.  W.  Mitchell 
Rev.  V.  F.  Clark 


MEMBERS  OF  THE  ADN^ISORY  BOARD 
H.  C.  Herring,  D.D.,  Chairman 


CENTRALIZATIDN  IO9 

C'oni;regalii)nal  ])aslor  ami  inusl  ]k-  received  as  sueli."  iL 
inav  he  an  liulependcnt  church  and  its  pastor  an  Independ- 
ent minister,  but  neither  church  nor  minister  can  lay  claim 
to  the  name  Congregational  until  recognized  by  a  Congre- 
gational council,  or  received  into  a  Congregational  associa- 
tion which  is  responsible  for  the  standing  of  both  church 
and  minister. 

The  old  idea  of  ministerial  standing  in  the  local  church 
is  a  relic  of  independienc_v  zvithout  fellowship.  Modern  Con- 
gregationalisiu  has  long  since  repudiated  it,  and  the  western 
churches  have  been  among  the  foremost  in  pushing  forward 
this  development  of  Congregationalism,  holding  in  even  bal- 
ance its  two  constitutive  principles,  the  independence  of  the 
local  church  in  the  management  of  its  own  affairs,  and  the 
fellowship  of  the  churches  in  a  united  body — the  denomina- 
tion. Any  future  centralization  in  government  of  the  de- 
nomination must  continue  to  lioUi  in  cz'cn  balance  these  tzco 
constitutive  principles  if  our  churches  remain  Congrega- 
tional. There  is  no  indication  that  Congregational  Nebraska 
is  ready  to  renounce  its  birthright  and  disown  its  inheritance. 

EVANGELI.SM 

But  there  are  tokens  of  a  vigorous  denominational  life,  a 
truly  Congregational  life.  The  action  of  the  recent  Na- 
tional Council  at  Des  Moines  in  creating  a  Committee  on 
Evangelism,  representative  in  ever\'  way,  earnest  and  de- 
voted, a  committee  who  mean  business,  is  already  sending 
a  purer  blood  through  our  denominational  veins,  and  with 
the  development  of  a  new  spiritual  life  there  is  coming  also 
into  our  churches  a  strong  Congregational  consciousness, 
which  indicates  a  more  rapid  growth  in  churches  and  a 
commanding  influence  in  the  management  and  life  of  our 
great  missionary  societies  and  institutions  of  learning — 
the  congregational  academies,  colleges,  and  theological 
seminaries. 


no  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

XVIII 

THE  OUTLOOK 

At  the  Geneva  meeting  Superintendent  Bross  in  his  an- 
nual report  makes  mention  of  the  fact  that  the  Nebraska 
State  Missionary  Society  had  ahiiost  reached  its  majority, 
which  to-day  it  boasts,  in  the  following-  words : 

"twenty  YEARS 

"This  is  the  twentieth  anniversary  of  our  Home  Mission- 
ary Society.  The  history  of  the  years  has  much  to  show 
of  progress.  Then  we  had  a  membership  of  4,042,  now 
16,005  -  then  our  home  expenses  were  $45,248,  now  $150,030; 
then  we  raised  for  our  benevolences  $8,723,  now  $19,479. 
While  then  we  had  nominally  147  churches,  many  of  them 
were  so  only  in  name,  and  even  their  names  have  since  dis- 
appeared. Only  seventy-seven  of  our  present  205  churches 
had  then  been  organized.  We  often  mourn  over  our  lost 
churches,  and  in  many  cases  we  ought  not  only  to  weep  but 
to  humble  ourselves  in  dust  and  ashes  that  we  forsook  them 
in  the  time  of  their  dire  extremity ;  but  it  is  worth  remember- 
ing that  the  total  membership  of  the  churches  whose  names 
have  disappeared  from  that  list  of  twenty  years  ago  amounts 
to  only  453,  only  four  or  five  of  them  having  a  membership 
above  twenty. 

"NEW   FEATURES 

"Three  features  of  the  work  of  the  past  year  I  wish  to 
emphasize,  viz. :  the  Lincoln  Convocation,  the  advent  of  the 
Yale  Band,  the  efiforts  of  the  board  to  take  advantage  of 
this  occasion  to  increase  the  volume  of  our  work. 


112  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

"The  Lincoln  Convocation  [presided  over  by  Hon.  C. 
B.  Anderson  of  Crete]  March  23,  brought  together 
many  representatives  from  dififerent  parts  of  the  state  and 
gave  utterance  to  the  deep  conviction  on  the  part  of  many 
that  we  need  an  awakening  interest  in  our  Congregational 
ranks.  Dr.  Herring  evidently  interpreted  the  feeling  when 
he  said :  'I  am  oppressed  with  the  sense  of  the  weakness 
of  our  Congregational  Zion.' 

"For  a  whole  day,  from  8  :oo  o'clock  in  the  morning  until 
9  :oo  in  the  evening,  the  convocation  faced  the  question  of 
ways  and  means  for  an  advance  along  the  line.  Prayer  and 
conference,  addresses  and  resolutions,  the  best  wisdom  and 
concentrated  attention  in  committee  meetings  combined  to 
make  the  day  memorable  in  our  Congregational  history. 
The  publication  in  the  Congregational  News  of  April  of  Dr. 
Herring's  strong  address  and  the  resolutions  adopted 
brought  the  message  of  the  meeting  into  many  of  our  homes. 
The  paper  ought  to  have  gone  into  many  more  homes. 

"Among  the  resolutions  adopted  was  the  following:  Tn 
our  judgment  the  time  has  come  to  set  a  higher  standard 
for  our  missionary  gifts.  Especially  in  the  matter  of  home 
missionary  offerings  do  we  feel  that  our  15,000  members 
ought  not  to  attempt  to  raise  less  than  $10,000  per  year, 
nor  to  be  satisfied  to  fall  short  of  it.'  This  certainly  struck 
a  high  note,  none  too  high,  for  our  home  missionary  gifts. 
The  meeting  also  expressed  the  conviction  that  in  view  of 
the  great  need  of  laborers,  the  superintendent  should  visit 
eastern  seminaries  and  appeal  to  the  young  men  to  come  to 
the  rescue.  Upon  reporting  this  matter  to  New  York  it 
struck  a  responsive  chord  there,  and  Secretary  Choate,  with- 
out waiting  to  write,  wired  the  superintendent  at  once  ad- 
vising the  Ansit.     .     .     . 

"It  has  been  felt  by  the  board  and  the  superintendent 
that  the  coming  of  this  band  in  connection  with  the  utter- 


THE  OUTLOOK  I  I3 

anccs  of  the  Lincoln  Convocation  ought  to  mark  the  begin- 
ning of  better  things  in  the  tlevelopment  of  our  work.  Evi- 
dently we  ought  to  be  moving  more  rapidly  toward  the  goal 
of  self-support.  In  the  hard-time  years  we  could  not  press 
forward  with  much  momentum.  We  have  outgrown  hard- 
time  conditions.  It  is  amazing  to  witness  the  recuperative 
power  of  our  great  state.  Churches  in  eastern  Nebraska 
that  have  almost  reached  self-support  need  to  make  the  ad- 
ditional effort  to  complete  the   work. 

■'But  especially  do  we  need  to  bestir  ourselves  for  in- 
creased contributions.  With  this  fact  in  view,  the  board 
has  given  much  time  of  late  to  this  aspect  of  the  work. 
The  sessions  have  not  been  simply  to  pass  upon  applications 
but  to  advance  the  interests  of  our  Congregational  Zion. 
One  result  of  these  deliberations  has  been  the  publication 
in  a  red-letter  circular  of  a  statement  and  an  appeal  to  the 
churches  for  the  raising  of  $8,000  the  present  year.  Enough 
of  these  have  been  prepared  to  circulate  among  our  fam- 
ilies, or  at  least  in  groups  of  families.  This  is  a  red-letter 
edition,  and  it  is  hoped  that  pastors  will  make  free  use  of 
them  in  connection  with  their  annual  collection.  Take  sam- 
ples of  them  to  your  homes.  The  other  is  along  a  different 
line  and  I  can  not  use  three  minutes  of  your  time  to  better 
advantage  than  to  read  it. 

"the  christian  stewardship  ijand 

"Dear  Friend — In  view  of  the  abundant  means  now  in 
the  hands  of  Congregational  Christians  in  Nebraska,  many 
of  the  more  conscientious  are  seriously  asking  the  question 
whether  it  is  right  for  us  to  look  to  eastern  givers — many 
of  whom  are  less  able  than  we — to  provide  two-thirds  of 
the  financial  help  needed  for  the  home  missionary  work  in 
our  state,  when  the  Lord  has  placed  in  our  hands  ample 
means  for  this  work  if  we  are  willing  to  use  it  in  any  way. 
8 


114 


CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 


A  movement  is  therefore  on  foot  to  band  together  such  as 
recognize  the  claims  of  Christian  stewardship,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  doing  more  thoroughly  our  fair  share  of  this  im- 
portant work  within  our  own  state.  Recognizing  the  fact 
that  the  amount  received  from  church  collections  is  not  suf- 
ficient for  these  important  lines  of  Christian  work,  many 
persons  in  the  East  contribute  annually,  as  individuals,  to 
the  work,  because  they  firmly  believe  that  no  agency  is  as 


FALLS  OF  THE  NORTH   LOUP  RIN'ER 


well  fitted  to  strengthen  and  develop  the  institutions  of  free- 
dom inherited  from  our  Pilgrim  forefathers  as  are  the 
churches  and  Sunday  schools,  and  that  these  should  be 
planted  and  kept  actively  at  work  in  each  local  community. 
Many  in  Nebraska  share  in  these  convictions,  and  to  such 
this  letter  is  addressed. 

"Out  of  over  16,000  Congregational  Christians  in  the 
state  it  is  believed  that  from  300  to  500  at  least  can  be  found 
who  are  able  and  who  will  be  willing  to  contribute  in  sums 


THE  OUTLOOK  II5 

of  $10,  $25,  $50,  or  $100  a  year  for  this  specific  work  in 
addition  to'  what  is  usually  given  in  connection  with  the 
annual  church  offering.  In  this  way  it  is  hoped  at  least 
$5,000  additional  can  be  raised  for  this  work.  At  present, 
of  the  $12,000  and  more  of  home  missionary  money  used 
in  the  state,  the  Nebraska  givers  furnish  less  than  $5,000. 
The  Christian  Stewardship  Rand  is  a  recognition  that  this 
sum  is  no  fair  proportion  of  the  abundance  with  which  the 
Lord  has  blessed  us  and  is  an  effort  to  organize  a  'band 
whose  hearts  God  hath  touched,'  to  the  end  that  Christ's 
work  may  receive  the  same  businesslike  attention  which  is 
given  the  less  important  secular  enterprises  of  the  state. 

"If  this  movement  meets  your  approval  and  you  are  will- 
ing to  join  us  in  it,  please  fill  out  the  enclosed  pledge  form 
for  such  sum  as  you  are  willing  to  invest  in  the  work  and 
forward  it  to  Supt.  H.  Rross.  D.D..  Lincoln,  Nebraska.  DO 
IT  NOW. 

"Yours  in  the  Master's  service, 

"S.  I.  Han  FORD, 
"W.  A.  Selleck, 
"H.  Bross, 

'Tommiftcc."'- 

At  the  Geneva  meeting  steps  were  taken  looking  toward 
the  incorporation  of  the  Nebraska  Home  Missionary  So-' 
ciety.  This  was  accomplished  a  year  later  at  the  Lincoln 
meeting,  and  the  Nebraska  Home  Missionary  Society  is  now 
a  corporate  body,  and  is  looking  forward  to  the  near  fu- 
ture, when  it  shall  be  independent  of  the  National  Congre- 
gational Home  INlissionary  Society  and  administer  its  own 
funds,  commission  its  own  missionaries,  and  be  able, 
through  the  C.  H.  M.  Society  so  long  its  foster  mother,  to 
do  something  for  "the  regions  beyond." 

'Minutes,  1903,  pp.  44-47. 


Il6  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

In  incorporating,  the  society  elected  the  following  officers : 
President  John  E.  Tuttle,  D.D.,  Lincoln;  Secretary  Rev. 
A.  E.  Ricker,  Aurora ;  Treasurer  Rev.  Lewis  Gregory,  Lin- 
coln. Board  of  Directors :  Prof.  A.  C.  Hart,  Franklin ; 
W.  A.  Selleck,  Lincoln ;  Rev.  J.  D.  Stewart,  Aurora ;  Rev. 
S.  L  Hanford,  Weeping  Water;  M.  A.  Bullock,  D.D.,  Lin- 
coln; Rev.  George  E.  Taylor,  Pierce;  Rev.  A.  E.  Ricker, 
Aurora ;  Supt.  C.  H.  M.  S.  for  Nebraska  Harmon  Bross, 
D.D.,  Lincoln.  Officers  of  the  board:  M.  A.  Bullock, 
D.D.,  chairman;  Rev.  George  E.  Taylor,  secretary. 

Before,  however,  the  State  Home  Missionary  Society  can 
become  self-supporting  there  will  have  to  be  a  vigorous 
growth  of  the  feeling  of  responsibility  for  our  home  mis- 
sionary work  on  the  part  of  our  churches.  Our  contribu- 
tions will  have  to  be  increased  three-fold  before  we  can  as- 
sume self-support,  and  four-fold  before  we  can  do  an  ag- 
gressive work  in  the  state.  The  society  awaits  the  response 
of  the  churches.  The  society  has  secured  the  help  of  Rev. 
N.  L.  Packard  as  general  m.issionary  and  he  entered  upon 
the  work  November  i,  1904.  He  combines  evangelistic 
work  with  that  of  caring  for  pastorless  churches,  and  great 
good  is  expected  from  his  labors  in  the  state. 


PHASES  OF  CHURCH  GROWTH 


117 


XIX 

PHASES  OF  CHURCH   GROWTH 

We   have   noted    in   a   general   way   the   growth   of  our 
churches   throughout   the   state   "beginning  at  Jerusalem," 


REV.   CHARLES  LITTLE 
First  pastor  First  Congregational  Church,  Lincohi,  1867 

in  this  case  Omaha;  seeing  the  little  church  organized  by 
Father  Gaylord  growing  in  strength  and  numbers,  sending 


ii8 


CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 


colonies  here  and  there  in  the  rapidly  growing  city  until 
our  Congregational  Zion  numbers  in  that  city  eight  churches. 
We  have  seen  Fremont  become  a  strong  and  leading  church 
under  the  successive  pastorates  of  able  men.  We  have 
noted  the  increase  in  the  number  of  churches  and  men,  but 
have  felt  constrained  rapidly  to  pass  by  the  development 
of  church  life  in  various  places. 

A  chapter  devoted  to  some  phases  of  church  life  in  differ- 
ent parts  of  the  state  may  be  of  positive  value.  Especially 
is  this  true  since  the  writer  has  been  able  to  call  to  his  aid 


FIRST    CONGREGATIONAL   CHURCH,    LINCOLN,    1868 

the  help  of  men  who  were  on  the  field  and  entered  largely 
into  the  work  concerning  which  they  write. 

It  is  a  source  of  great  gratification  to  the  writer  that 
these  busy  men  have  been  willing  to  take  the  time  to  give 
this  valuable  service  to  the  churches.  The  first  to  respond 
is  Rev.  Lewis  Gregory,  who  for  twenty-three  years  was 
pastor  of  the  First  Congregational  Church  in  Lincoln,  and 
is  now  president  of  the  American  Savings  bank  in  that 
city.     Mr.  Gregory  writes  of 

CONGREGATIONALISM  IN  LINCOLN 

"Congregationalism  in  Nebraska  was  ten  years  old  and 
had  ten  churches  when  it  began  regular  services  in  Lancas- 
ter countv.    This  was  one  of  the  least  settled  of  the  eastern 


PHASES  OF  CHURCH  GROWTH 


119 


eounties.  Only  116  votes  were  polled  in  the  county  at  an 
exciting-  election  in  1866.  A  county  seat,  the  present  site  of 
Lincoln,  was  laid  off  in  1864  and  named  Lancaster. 

"Rev.  E.  C.  Taylor  preached  here  occasionally  as  an  out- 
station  of  Greenwood.     In  August,  1866,  a  little  church  of 


FIRST  CONGREGATIOXAL   CHURCH,   LINCOLN,    I905. 
Cut  loaned  by  the  I^incoln  business  College 

six  members  was  organized.  This  is  the  oldest  existing 
church  in  Lincoln.  The  minutes  of  the  council  state  that 
there  were  then  seven  buildings  in  the  town,  viz.,  a  school- 
house,  a  store,  a  blacksmith  shop,  and  four  dwellings.  In 
the  follow^ing  summer  it  was  decided  to  locate  the  state 
capital  here,  and  call  the  town  Lincoln.     In  December  of 


I20 


CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 


the  same  year  (1867)  Rev.  Charles  Little,  having  been 
chosen  pastor  of  the  Congregational  Church,  set  about  se- 
curing for  it  a  meeting-house.  This  was  erected  in  1868  at 
a  cost  of  $2,778,  and  Vv^as  the  first  permanent  building  dedi- 
cated to  the  worship  of  God  in  Lincoln. 


REV.    LEWIS    GREGORY  ' 

"For  a  few  years  there  was  an  ecclesiastical  society  con- 
nected with  the  church,  after  the  old  New  England  fashion, 
but  was  discontinued  in  1873.  After  an  arduous  and  self- 
sacrificing  pastorate  Mr.  Little  resigned  in  1870,  leaving  a 
church  of  thirty-four  members.  Mr.  Little  afterward  re- 
turned to  Lincoln,  where  he  and  his  wife  are  buried. 

"His  successors.  Rev.  L.  B.  Fifield  and  Rev.  S.  R.  Dim- 
mock,  were  men  of  scholarly  ability  and  oratorical  gifts. 


PHASES  OF  CHURCH  GROWTH  121 

Considerable  additions  were  made  to  the  churcli,  but  there 
was  so  much  going  as  well  as  coming  that  the  residue  was 
small.  However,  the  congregation  of  strangers  kept  in- 
creasing. The  church  building  was  enlarged  and 
mortgaged. 

"B}'  act  of  the  state  legislature  of  1869  lots  were  given  to 
churches  erecting  buildings  within  two  years.  As  a  con- 
sequence there  was  an  unfortunate  division  of  effort  and 
multiplication  of  church  edifices.  All  the  parishes  were  in 
debt;  religious  interest  declined.  When  Mr.  Dimmock  re- 
signed in  1875  there  were  only  about  fifty  active  members 
on  the  roll. 

"The  church  seriously  considered  whether  it  was  not 
best  to  disband.  In  the  good  old  Congregational  way  they 
called  a  council  to  advise  on  the  matter.  The  council  dis- 
couraged the  idea  of  disbanding,  and  the  church  decided  to 
go  forward. 

"The  failure  to  ask  advice,  and  the  mistake  of  looking 
only  on  the  surface  for  the  results  of  the  first  hard  years  of 
pioneering  have  wrecked  many  Nebraska  churches.  They 
abandon  the  foundations  laid,  and  leave  the  good  seed  sown 
in  tears,  when  onl}-  a  little  more  persistence  and  patience 
are  necessary  to  justify  the  years  of  labor  seemingly  spent 
in  vain.  Later  in  the  same  year  (1875)  a  call  was  ex- 
tended to  Rev.  Lewis  Gregory  who  continued  in  the  pastor- 
ate twenty-three  years.  He  was  succeeded  in  1898  by  Rev. 
W.  H.  Manss,  followed  in  1903  by  Rev.  J.  E.  Tuttle.  D.D., 
the  present  minister. 

"These  thirty  years  have  witnessed  a  steady  growth. 
The  church  is  now  the  largest  of  our  order  in  the  state. 
It  shares  with  its  seven  sister  churches  of  our  order  in  the 
city,  with  their  united  membership  of  1,773.  the  honor  of 
contributing  largely  to  the  religious  life  of  Lincoln  and 
Nebraska. 


122  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

"It  is  to  the  credit  of  our  denominational  fellowship 
that  none  of  these  churches,  Lincoln  First,  Plymouth,  First 
German,  Vine  Street,  Butler  Avenue,  Swedish,  Zion,  and 
wSalem,  sprang  out  of  dissension  or  rivalry.  Each,  with  the 
approval  of  all,  is  located  in  a  distinct  parish  in  centers  of 
influence.  Each  has  been  established  in  turn  to  meet  the 
growing-  iieeds  of  population  and  the  general  interests  of 
Christ's  Kingdom. 

''The  history  of  the  German  churches  of  Lincoln  is  of 
special  interest.  The  largest  German  church  of  our  order 
is  located  in  Lincoln.  More  German  Congregationalists  are 
here  than  in  any  other  city  of  our  country.  The  origin  of 
this  work  in  1889  came  of  the  helping  hand  extended  by  the 
Congregationalists  of  the  city  in  suggesting  and  contribut- 
ing to  a  place  of  worship  for  the  German  people  coming 
here,  poor  but  thrifty,  to  escape  the  exactions  of  Russian 
despotism.  Li  the  way  of  sympathy,  advice,  and  little 
courtesies,  mutual  good  will  has  grown  until  in  apprecia- 
tion of  its  liberty  and  fellowship  Congregationalism  has  no 
more  loyal  children  than  our  German  brethren  of  Lincoln." 

It  may  be  added  that  Mr.  Gregory's  characteristic  mod- 
esty prevented  him  from  saying  how  large  a  factor  he  him- 
self was  in  building  up  the  First  Church,  erecting  its  present 
attractive  church  building,  establishing  the  other  Congre- 
gational churches,  and  in  helping  our  German  brethren  to 
see  in  our  church  polity  the  freedom  for  which  they  had 
hungered  when  in  their  German  villages  in  Russia.  Whole 
villages  of  these  Russo-Germans  emigrated  in  a  body  from 
Russia  to  Nebraska.  A  people  intensely  religious  and  de- 
voted, liberty  loving,  and  loyal,  they  soon  found  in  our 
fellowship  a  congenial  church  home. 

We  nov/  have  German  churches  in  Alliance,  Butte,  Crete, 
Deweese,  Friend,  Germantown,  Guide  Rock.  Hallam,  Hast- 
ings,   Hayes    County,    Inland,    Lincoln,    McCook,    Napier, 


PHASES  OP  CHURCH  GROWTH 


123 


Omaha.    l''rinccton,    Stoclcham,    Superior,    Sutton,    Timlier 
Creek,  and  Turkey  Creek. 

The  church  at  Crete,  organized  in  1876,  is  the  oldest,  and 
\n  that  town  for  some  years  was  located  the  German  Pro- 


REV.   WILLIAM   .SUESS,   CRETE 


Seminary  which  for  a  time  had  a  loose  connection  with 
Doane  College.  This'  pro-seminary,  designed  to  prepare 
students  for  the  German  department  of  Chicago  Theolog- 
ical Seminary,  was  transferred  to  Wilton  Junction,  Iowa, 
and  became  the  Wilton  German-English  College  in  Septem- 


124  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

ber,  1894,  the  Wilton  Congregational  Academy,  with  two 
brick  buildings  and  several  acres  of  land,  being  turned  over 
by  its  trustees  to  the  German  brethren  for  this  purpose. 

In  September,  1904,  the  Wilton  school  was  consolidated 
with  Redfield  College,  South  Dakota,  and  the  property  in 
Wilton  was  disposed  of  for  about  $4,500  in  favor  of  the 
town,  and  the  sum  applied  on  indebtedness.  The  location  of 
Redfield  College  is  near  the  territory  from  which  a  large 
number  of  German  students  come,  and  the  change  is 
thought  to  be  desirable  in  every  way. 

Rev.  F.  C.  F.  Scherff  of  Minden,  Iowa,  writes  ■} 

"The  new  articles  of  incorporation  of  Redfield  College 
provide  a  full  German  course  for  German  theological  stu- 
dents. It  is  believed  that  the  college  under  the  new  condi- 
tions will  have  more  sympathy  and  financial  aid  from  the 
German  churches.  Prof.  H.  Seil  has  been  elected  presi- 
dent." 

This  digression  has  come  naturally  through  following 
out  the  history  of  a  Nebraska  institution,  sprung  from  our 
German  work,  a  large  part  of  which  is  in  the  city  of  Lincoln. 

CONGREGATIONALISM    IN   THE   ELKHORN   VALLEY 

Col.  S.  S.  Cotton  of  Norfolk  has  kindly  furnished  the 
following  account  of  church  life  in  the  Elkhorn  valley : 

"Until  the  year  1867,  the  Elkhorn  valley  was  uninhabited 
by  white  people.  Only  Indians  roamed  over  it  in  search  of 
game,  or  interchanging  visits  among  the  dififerent  tribes. 
This  v/as  a  part  of  the  country  considered  by  eastern  peo- 
ple to  be  'the  great  American  desert.' 

"It  was  Albert  D.  Richardson  who,  perhaps  half  a  century 
ago,  traveled  through  this  country  in  company  with  Horace 

'Letter,  August  S,  1904. 


PHASES  OF  CHURCH  GROWTH  I  25 

(Ircclcv  and  published  a  work,  'i]c\ond  the  Mississippi/ 
and  gave  a  faint  idea  of  its  wonderful  possibilities,  its  vast 
commercial,  mining,  and  agricultural  resources.  What  he 
prophesied  as  possibilities  then  are  realities  now. 


COLONEL   S.    S.    COTTON 

"With  the  march  of  progress,  the  mission  church  has  held 
a  foremost  place.  P'rom  the  beginning  until  now,  Norfolk 
Church  has  been  a  center  to  which  the  younger  churches 
have  looked  for  inspiration  and  help. 

"Col.  Charles  Mathevvson,  the  main  founder  of  the  Nor- 
folk Church,  was  a  man  eminently  fitted  to  be  a  leader  in 
this   work  of  beginnings.      He   was   clear  headed,   with  a 


126  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

great  heart  fttll  of  sympathy  for  everything  looking  to  the 
upbuilding  of  church  life.  A  royal  welcome  to  his  home 
always  awaited  the  workers  in  the  little  sister  churches. 
They  could  not  fail  to  catch  encouragement  from  his  genial, 
hopeful  nature  and  inspiring  advice. 


COLONEL   CHARLES    MATHEWSON 

"The  Norfolk  Church  had  its  beginning  with  the  settle- 
ment of  the  town.  In  the  summer  of  1869  Colonel  Mathew- 
son,  with  his  family,  located  in  Norfolk,  building  a  flouring 
mill  and  the  first  house.  His  birthplace  was  Pomfret,  Con- 
necticut, a  town  noted  in  history  as  the  home  of  the  Revolu- 
tionary patriot,  General  Putnam. 


Geo.  Scott.  D.D. 
Rev.  M.  B.  Harrison 


Rev.  J.  W.  Kidder 
Rev.  Geo.  E.  Taylor 


128  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

"Religious  meetings  were  frequently  held  in  the  Mathew- 
son  home,  but  in  1871  it  was  decided  to  organize  a  church 
Knd  erect  a  church  building.  When  this  was  known  in 
Pomfret,  $200  was  forwarded  from  the  friends  there  as  a 
greeting  to  the  Norfolk  organization.  I  have  the  names  of 
the  donors  in  my  possession — thirty-four  in  number.  All 
but  five  have  joined  the  Church  Triumphant.  Of  the  five, 
two  are  now  living  in  Norfolk,  enjoying  the  benefit  of  that 
early  benevolence. 

"In  all  $900  was  raised  for  the  church  building.  The 
Congregational  Union  added  $500  more.  In  May,  1871,  a 
church  was  organized  with  ten  members :  Rev.  J.  W.  Kid- 
der, from  Michigan,  was  called  to  the  work.  He  continued 
his  services  until  1878,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  M. 
H.  Mead,  who  in  turn  resigned  May,  1881.  In  February, 
1882,  Mr.  Spencer  was  called  as  pastor  and  remained  three 
years.  During  these  pastorates,  a  period  of  fifteen  years, 
the  church  was  fostered  by  the  Home  Missionary  Society. 

"At  its  organization  and  for  several  years  afterward  this 
was  the  extreme  frontier  church  in  northern  Nebraska  of 
any  English  speaking  denomination,  and  the  only  Congre- 
gational church  west  and  north  of  Fremont,  except  the  one^ 
at  Columbus. 

"In  1885  the  town  had  grown  so  much  that  our  little 
church  seemed  about  to  be  crowded  out  by  the  business 
blocks,  which  were  approaching  very  near,  and  the  building 
was  too  small  for  the  growing  audiences,  so  a  beautiful 
church  was  erected  upon  new  lots  in  the  residence  part  of 
tov/n. 

"Rev.  J.  J.  Parker  of  New  York  was  called  to  the  work. 
His  coming  had  almost  the  touch  of  romance.  Some  one 
had  heard  of  Mr.  Parker  in  a  roundabout  way.  The  clerk 
of  the  church  wrote,  inviting  him  to  come  and  preach  four 
Sundays,  and  if  there  was  mutual  satisfaction  he  was  to 


PHASES  OP  CHURCH  GROWTH  1 29 

become  the  pastor  ot  the  church ;  otherwise  he  was  to 
return  to  New  York.  A  distance  of  1,000  miles  to  travel, 
unacquainted  wnth  a  single  person  in  the  town,  $30  for  re- 
muneration— it  took  a  brave  man  to  accept  such  conditions, 
but  it  was  done  to  the  lasting  satisfaction  of  all  parties. 
Some  men  are  born  preachers.  This  was  Mr.  Parker's  good 
fortune.  Sixteen  years  this  pastorate  continued,  with 
strengthening  affection  between  pastor  and  people.  It  has 
mau\-  times  been  said  that  during  this  period  Mr.  Parker 
never  preached  a  poor  sermon. 

'"A  temperament  capable  of  preaching  with  great  earnest- 
ness and  fire  must  sometimes  flame.  If  this  was  so  with  Mr. 
Parker,  we  must  recall  the  words  of  President  Roosevelt, 
'The  only  man  who  never  makes  a  mistake  is  the  man  who 
never  does  anything.'  Norfolk  Church  and  the  name  Parker 
will  g'o  down  the  years  together. 

"August  5,  1899,  ^  great  grief  came  to  Mr.  Parker  and 
the  church  in  the  death  of  Mrs.  Parker.  The  mother  of 
ten  children,  she  was  of  necessity  a  home  keeper,  but  no 
'servant  question'  troubled  her,  for  she  took  care  of  her 
own  family,  yet  foimd  time  and  strength  for  all  the  devo- 
tional meetings.  Mrs.  Parker  was  a  woman  of  calm,  sweet 
nature  and  great  spirituality.  The  uplifting  power  of  her 
prayers  will  always  remain  as  a  benediction  upon  this  church. 

'T  think  every  one  present  at  a  State  Association  in  Nor- 
folk will  recall  Mrs.  Parkers  coming  forward,  holding  her 
baby  boy,  and  saying,  'I  have  not  silver  nor  gold,  but  I  give 
this  baby  boy  to  the  Lord,  and  to  His  service.'  Who  can 
estimate  the  meaning  of  such  a  gift?  Perhaps  the  sainted 
mother  can. 

"Rev.  W.  J.  Turner  was  called  to  the  church  in  1902  and 

is  still  the  pastor.     He  preaches  good  sermons,  is  of  sweet 

spirit  and  fine  social   nature.     The  church  prospers  under 

his  influence  in  all  departments  of  its  activity.     The  mem- 

9 


130  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

bership  now  numbers  more  than  two  hundred.  The  church 
has  had  its  vicissitudes,  but  out  of  small  numbers  and  weak- 
ness and  poverty  it  has  arisen,  strong  and  vigorous,  to  do 
valiant  service  for  the  Master. 

"Every  little  town  in  the  Elkhorn  valley  wanted  a  church. 
It  was  needed  as  a  check  to  lawlessness,  and  as  an  induce- 
ment for  respectable  citizens  to  settle.  This  idea  was  illus- 
trated in  a  neighboring  town.  The  citizens  wanted  a  church. 
There  was  not  a  church  member  among  them.  Not  one 
had  attended  church  enough  to  be  interested  in  any  particu- 
lar organization.  They  decided  to  take  bids  from  the  differ- 
ent societies.  The  Congregationalists  oft'ered  the  most 
inducements. 

"In  the  early  times  home  missionaries  often  passed 
through  Norfolk,  as  it  was  a  railroad  center.  Many  times 
it  was  convenient  for  them  to  stay  over  a  day  or  two. 
A  large  corner  room  was  always  ready  for  them  in  our 
home,  and  one  of  our  greatest  privileges  was  the  entertain- 
ment of  these  heroic  pioneers. 

"Chief  among  them,  and  counselor  for  them  all,  was  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Bross,  General  Missionary,  and  afterward  Superin- 
tendent of  Home  Missions.  He  was  many  times  an  honored 
guest  in  our  home,  but  never  for  long.  It  was  always 
'move  on.'  I  well  remember  one  Sabbath.  The  Doctor  told 
a  most  eloquent  story  of  his  work  in  our  church  in  the 
morning.  He  was  due  at  Pierce  in  the  evening.  At  noon 
a  blizzard  began.  Snow  falling  fast ;  wind  blowing  faster 
still.  Unavailing  were  all  entreaties  to  prevent  his  ventur- 
ing on  the  perilous  drive  of  twelve  miles.  His  faithful  wife 
insisted  on  keeping  him  company.  The  Lord  needed  them 
for  future  work,  and  they  arrived  safely.  Where  is  the  ro- 
mance to  liome.missions  ? 

"Many  interesting  experiences  were  related  by  these 
visitors  in  our  homes.     One  missionary  said,  T  shall  never 


PHASES  OF  CHURCH  GROWTH  I3I 

forget  the  day  ihat  fixed  our  choice  on  this  work.  My  hus- 
hand  came  in  with  two  letters.  One  contained  an  offer 
of  a  home  missionary  church  in  Neljraska  with  a  salary  of 
$700 ;  the  other  an  invitation  to  a  church  in  a  pleasant  east- 
ern town  with  $1,400  salary.  He  looked  at  me,  "Which  shall 
it  be?"  he  questioned.  I  answered,  "You  say,"  and  he  did. 
It  was  to  go  to  the  frontier  on  $700  a  year.'  Then  she  spoke 
of  some  of  their  hardships.  One  winter  the  roads  were  all 
blocked,  and  very  little  fuel  could  be  bought.  Tiiey  shared 
what  they  had  stored  with  others.  When  all  was  exhausted, 
the  mother  and  two  children  went  to  bed  to  keep  from 
freezing.  They  stayed  there  one  week,  not  knowing  but  it 
might  be  a  month;  then  relief  came.  One  day,  she  said, 
her  husband  dug  down  eight  feet  and  hauled  out  five  sticks. 
She  said,  T  cried  when  he  gave  a  neighbor  two.' 

"Another  missionary  told  of  work  in  a  little  mountain 
town,  where  even  the  saloon-keepers  closed  up  and  attended 
church.  In  the  same  town  were  men  living  in  tents,  who 
baked  cakes  and  sent  them  to  a  children's  entertainment. 

"A  pleasing  incident  comes  to  mind  in  connection  with 
Green  Island  (now  Aten)  Church.  In  1879  a  niece  of 
Colonel  IMathewson  was  teaching  in  the  Pomfret,  Connecti- 
cut, Sunday  school.  She  had  a  class  of  well-grown  boys, 
restless,  eager,  young  fellows,  and,  anxious  to  interest  them 
in  home  missions,  she  conceived  the  idea  to  have  them  raise 
money  to  buy  a  bell  for  the  little  church  at  Green  Island. 
The  boys  entered  with  enthusiasm  into  the  plan,  and  soon 
the  bell  was  pealing  forth  on  the  little  mission  church. 
Later  the  Lord  called  this  teacher  into  His  higher  service. 
The  boys  scattered  and  entered  life's  work.  In  1882,  the 
year  of  great  floods,  I  one  day  read  in  the  paper  that  Green 
Island  was  entirely  swept  away  by  an  ice  gorge  in  the  Mis- 
souri. The  church  was  seen  floating  down  the  river,  the  bell 
ringing.     Instantly  there  came  to  mind  the  bright  class  of 


132  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

boys,  the  devoted  teacher,  the  ringing  of  their  bell  drowned 
by  the  roaring  water  of  the  Missouri.  Was  its  mission 
ended  ?  Or  will  its  tones  echo  down  the  ages,  kept  in  tune 
by  those  who  know  the  story — by  the  seed  sown  in  the 
hearts  of  young  manhood  in  their  first  effort  for  home 
missions  ? 

''Do  we  not  sow  sometimes  better  than  we  know  ?  A  little 
seed  dropped  here  and  there.  Only  the  Master  Gardener 
can  tell  of  the  harvest.  What  encouragement  for  weary 
workers !  If  the  outcome  of  their  working,  watching,  wait- 
ing was  only  what  their  eyes  could  see,  they  might  well  be 
faint-hearted.  But  with  the  Master's  touch  upon  it  all,  and 
all  effort  is  in  vain  without  it,  how  can  these  heroic  workers 
be  cast  down? 

'"The  work  grows  so  gradually.  Its  magnitude  can  hardly 
be  realized  except  as  we  pause  and  take  in  the  retrospect. 
Thirty  years  ago,  how  few  the  churches  in  all  this  region 
of  country !  How  bare  and  unadorned  they  were !  How 
small  the  congregations !  With  what  struggling  they  main- 
tained the  preaching!  Now,  dotting  the  landscape  every- 
where, are  beautiful  houses  of  worship,  with  earnest  and 
increasing  memberships. 

"And  let  it  not  for  one  moment  be  forgotten  that  the 
home  missionary  and  the  church  building  societies  are  the 
parents  of  them  all.  They  have  all  been  helped  into  exist- 
ence, and  sustained  until  strong  enough  to  stand  alone,  by 
these  societies. 

"The  dear  little  church  on  the  prairie !  If  all  the  boards 
could  speak,  what  a  story  they  would  tell  of  the  dollars  that 
nailed  them  there !  But  the  record  is  not  lost.  God  has  the 
story  written  dovi^n  in  His  own  book.  All  the  consecration, 
all  the  self-denial  that  has  planted  His  houses  is  put  down 
in  letters  that  time  can  never  blot  out." 


Rev.  W.  S.  Hampton 
Prin.  A.  C.  Hart 


Rev.  R.  S.  Pierce 
Prin.  F.  C.  Taylor 


134  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

Colonel  Cotton  in  this  attractive  story  of  church  life 
speaks  as  a  pioneer  who  has  witnessed  the  development  from 
the  beginning.  One  riding  to-day  through  the  Elkhorn 
valley  thickly  covered  with  beautiful  and  productive  farms, 
with  good  houses  and  barns,  thriving  towns  here  and  there, 
can  hardly  realize  that  a  little  more  than  a  generation  ago 
this  was  virgin  soil,  the  home  of  the  Indian  and  hunter, 
where  occasionally  the  buffalo  might  be  seen.  Now  it  is 
one  of  the  richest  portions  of  the  state,  and  in  these  prosper- 
ous towns  and  settlements  Congregationalism  has  taken  deep 
root,  has  already  a  history  which  is  the  prophecy  of  a 
bright  future  of  service  in  the  Kingdom. 

CONGREGATIONALISM    IN   THE   REPUBLICAN    VALLEY 

The  Republican  valley  is  known  for  its  rich  alfalfa  fields. 
It  is  a  veritable  garden  spot.  A  good  alfalfa  farm  in  this 
valley  is  a  fortune.  The  tov/ns  are  not  large,  but  are  well 
located  to  accommodate  the  settlers.  In  this  valley  Franklin 
Academy,  which  is  doing  such  noble  service,  is  located. 
Congregationalism,  as  well  as  alfalfa,  has  here  found  con- 
genial soil.  Two  men,  Rev.  W.  S.  Hampton  and  Rev. 
George  E.  Taylor,  commissioned  as  general  missionaries, 
had  a  large  share  in  laying  the  foundations  of  Congrega- 
tionalism in  southwestern  Nebraska.  They  have  kindly  con- 
sented to  tell  in  brief  something  of  their  work. 

Rev.  W.  S.  Hampton  writes : 

"In  April,  1880,  I  was  commissioned  as  General  Mission- 
ary for  southwest  Nebraska.  West  of  Franklin  county 
there  w"ere  very  few  people  who  had  been  resident  more 
than  two  years  except  along  the  streams.  The  country  was 
filling  rapidly  v/ith  homesteaders  and  small  tradesmen  in 
the  growing  towns.  The  railroad  was  just  completed  to 
Indianola.  The  Texas  cattle  trail  entered  the  state  near 
where  the  Driftwood  creek  crosses  the  state  line.     Culbert- 


PIIASFS  0|-  (IIURCII  GROWTH  135 

SOU  was  IIk'  objective  point  for  al!  cattlemen  for  that  region. 
Thousanils  of  cattle  were  driven  across  the  valley  annually 
on  their  way  to  the  ranches  of  the  big  cattlemen  of  Ne- 
braska, Wyoming-,  and  the  regions  farther  north.  A  church 
organized  on  the  Driftwood  not  far  from  the  trail  was 
scattered  to  the  four  winds  by  the  severe  drouth  and  the 
sharp  hoofs  of  the  cattle.  I  have  seen  a  large  herd  turned 
aside  from  the  old  trail  to  trample  out  the  scant  crop  of  a 
poor  homesteader.  The  homesteaders  would  ruin  the  busi- 
ness of  the  cattle  king.  The  prairies  were  covered  with 
cattle.  At  the  spring  round-up  a  large  number  of  cowboys 
were  in  town.  A  stranger  just  arrived  with  broadcloth  suit, 
polished  boots,  a  gold  headed  cane,  and  a  shining  silk  hat. 
Offended  at  the  conduct  of  some  of  the  cowboys  he  re- 
buked them.  Soon  after,  when  crossing  the  street,  he  was 
surprised  by  the  crack  of  a  revolver,  the  whiz  of  a  bullet 
and  a  little  cloud  of  dust  at  his  feet.  This  was  followed  by 
another,  and  still  others  from  different  directions,  keeping 
him  jumping  to  escape  the  bullet  striking  at  his  feet,  until 
almost  breathless,  hatless,  and  covered  with  perspiration 
and  dust  he  was  given  a  rest.  He  purchased  a  new  hat, 
hired  a  livery  team  to  drive  to  Tndianola,  vowing  that  he 
had  enough  of  the  cattle  business. 

"Better  listeners  I  never  had  than  those  same  cowboys. 
I  preached  the  first  sermon  ever  preached  in  the  village  of 
Cambridge  in  early  May,  tS8o.  The  only  building  avail- 
able was  an  imfinished  store  building.  I  obtained  permis- 
sion to  use  it  for  Sunday  services.  Saturday  evening  after 
the  men  had  finished  their  day's  work,  with  coat  off  and 
broom  in  hand.  1  was  doing  my  best  to  get  it  ready  for  next 
morning.  I  was  reinforced  by  a  young  man  engaged  in 
Sunday  school  missionary  work  who  was  also  looking  for 
a  place  to  hold  service  and  organize  a  Sunday  school.  He 
introduced  himself  as  X.   D.  Hillis,  and   wished  to  secure 


136  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

the  use  of  the  building.  A  few  words  of  explanation  re- 
sulted in  his  taking-  oft  his  coat  and  assisting  in  arranging 
seats  as  best  we  could  with  boxes,  nail  kegs,  and  boards.  I 
preached  the  next  morning,  and  N.  D.  Hillis  in  the  evening. 
At  that  time  I  believe  I  could  preach  as  well  as  he.  He  is 
now  pastor  of  Pl3mouth  Church,  Brooklyn. 

"My  next  service  in  Cambridge  was  in  an  unfinished 
blacksmith  shop  with  roof  partly  shingled,  dirt  floor,  and 
improvised  seats  as  before.  For  the  winter  we  used  the 
'barracks,'  as  the  building  was  called.  It  was  three  stones 
long,  the  west  sod,  the  center  log',  and  the  east  boards,  all 
on  the  ground.  We  occupied  the  log  story.  It  had  been 
used  for  a  dwelling,  and  sometimes  called  a  hotel.  All  the 
inhabitants  had  not  moved  out.  The  warm  spring  days 
seemed  to  bring  them  forth,  and  their  gamboling  up  and 
down  the  walls  and  elsewhere  compelled  us  to  seek  other 
quarters.  A  frame  building  was  secured  for  a  school  house, 
and  we  used  that  until  better  accommodations  could  be  had. 

"I  preached  the  first  sermon  in  Oxford  in  an  unfinished 
store  building.  The  next  time  I  was  there  the  services 
were  held  in  a  grove  where  a  platform  had  been  erected  for 
Fourth  of  July  celebration.  We  used  that  until  cold  weather 
forbade.  We  then  accepted  the  ofifer  of  a  Mr.  Mugg  of 
the  space  between  the  counters  of  his  drug  store,  which  we 
used  till  spring.     Mr.  Mugg  furnished  fuel  and  seats. 

"I  preached  in  sod  dwelling  houses,  in  dugouts  and  in  the 
open  air,  wherever  there  was  need  and  people  could  be 
gathered  together. 

''At  one  place  we  found  a  novel  Sunday  school.  Chris- 
tians were  scarce,  but  the  people  wanted  a  school.  Several 
men,  only  one  of  them  claiming  to  be  a  Christian,  agreed 
to  superintend  one  month  each,  thus  distributing  the  burden. 
It  was  a  success.  We  now  have  a  Congregational  church 
in  the  town.    I  think  N.  D.  Hillis  assisted  the  school  when 


REV.    HENRY  BxVTES 


138  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

on  his  way  up  the  valley.     I  do  not  know  that  the  plan  was 
his. 

"When  Franklin  was  first  seen  by  nie  there  were  three 
buildings  on  the.  present  town  site,  a  dugoiit,  a  log  cabin, 
and  a  small  frame  building  unoccupied.  I  preached  there 
in  October,  1880,  in  a  schoolhouse,  part  dugout  and  part 
log,  with  sod  roof.  In  company  with  Rev.  J.  M.  Strong 
I  took  dinner  at  the  home  of  A.  E.  Rice,  now  of  Hillsboro, 
Oregon,  Our  conversation  drifted  naturally  to  the  subject 
of  Christian  education.  Mr.  Rice  w^as  anxious  to  give  his 
children  as  good  an  education  as  possible.  He  was  ac- 
quainted with  the  history  and  work  of  Denmark  Academy, 
Iowa.  The  need  of  an  academy  for  the  Republican  valley 
was  considered,  and  from  that  time  plans  were  thought  out 
which  resulted  in  Franklin  Academy.  My  plans  were  for 
the  institution  to  be  further  west  in  the  valley,  but  I  was 
content  with  the  location,  as  at  the  time  that  seemed  best. 
Everywhere  I  went  parents  were  discussing  the  educational 
problem.  Young  people  were  anxious  to  have  better  ad- 
vantages than  the  sod  schoolhouse  afforded.  It  was  not 
strange  that  the  first  term  of  Franklin  Academy  opened 
with  fifty-five  students. 

"My  experiences  during  my  work  as  general  missionary 
were  an  inspiration  to  me.  The  strong  faith  of  the  people 
In  the  possibilities  of  the  valle}',  and  their  determination  to 
win  victory  out  of  every  seeming  defeat  were  worthy  the 
heroes  of  any  age.  The  gracious  revival  in  Franklin  in 
January,  1882,  followed  by  constant  revival  in  the  Academy, 
the  campaign  of  Mrs.  S.  M.  I.  Henry  at  Riverton,  Alma, 
Bloomington,  Franklin,  and  Red  Cloud  in  the  winter  of 
1884-85,  have  left  their  impress  upon  all  that  region,  and 
have  reached  to  far  distant  places  through  the  immigration 
of  converts. 

"These  seasons  of  spiritual  refreshing  haA-e  been  among 
the  most  precious  remembrances  of  my  life." 


W^: 


REV.    S.    C.   DEAN 


140  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

Rev.  George  E.  Taylor  writes  as  follows  :* 

"The  year  1880  was  notable  in  the  development  of  south- 
western Nebraska.  The  region  was  reviving  after  the  pro- 
longed drouth  that  had  discouraged  all  but  the  most  per- 
sistent of  the  early  settlers.  The  B.  &  M.  railroad  was 
extending  its  line  up  the  Republican  valley.  The  flickering 
churches  at  Guide  Rock,  Red  Cloud,  Riverton,  and  Franklin 
were  being  fanned  to  increased  ardor  under  the  new  leader- 
ship of  Rev.  George  Bent  at  Red  Cloud,  and  Rev.  J.  M. 
vStrong  at  Riverton. 

'"At  the  uttermost  frontier  in  Red  Willow  county,  the 
venerable  Amos  Dresser  was  heroically  at  work.  In  the 
north  part  of  Franklin  county  a  little  church  had  gathered 
about  that  herculean  Vermonter,  the  Rev.  S.  N.  Grout,  'hold- 
ing down'  a  homestead  at  Macon.  In  the  spring  of  1880 
Rev.  W.  S.  Hampton  of  Arborville  was  commissioned  for 
general  missionary  work  in  the  Republican  valley  with  head- 
quarters at  Cambridge.  During  the  year  eight  churches 
were  organized,  mostly  under  his  care. 

"In  the  northwest  corner  of  Franklin  county  Amos  N. 
Dean  was  one  of  the  sod  house  dwellers.  In  his  Iowa  home 
he  had  served  as  county  superintendent  of  schools,  also  as 
an  elder  in  the  Presbyterian  church.  In  his  new  prairie 
home  he  was  an  efficient  teacher  in  Sunday  school.  With 
no  minister  in  the  region  he  could  not  resist  the  call  to 
unfold  the  Word  of  God  to  the  congregations  which  crowded 
the  schoolhouses  at  Freewater  and  Morning  Star.  Churches 
were  soon  formed  at  both  these  points.  Mr.  Dean,  well 
passed  his  fiftieth  year,  responded  to  the  invitation  of  the 
two  churches  to  become  their  pastor,  and  was  ordained  by 
council.  In  1881  Mr.  Dean  was  called  to  Cambridge,  where 
for  nearly  ten  years  he  was  a  beloved  and  efifective  pastor 
and  an  esteemed  brother  and  father  in  the  association. 


PHASES  OF  CHURCH  GROWTH  I4I 

"In  the  autumn  of  1880  some  seventeen  churches  united 
in  forming"  the  RepubHcan  Valley  Association  of  Congrega- 
tional Churches.  Early  in  1881  the  association  founded 
Franklin  .\cademy.  P'rom  the  first  this  school  has  been  a 
loved  and  loving  child  of  the  churches,  a  bond  of  fellowship, 
a  force  for  spiritual  and  intellectual  life.  The  men  who 
have  wrought  themselves  into  tlie  school  are  those  who 
have  most  effectually  built  up  the  Kingdom  of  Christ  from 
Hastings  and  Red  Cloud  to  the  Colorado  line. 

"Rev.  Amos  Dresser,  then  pastor  at  Indianola,  prayed, 
toiled,  and  won  for  the  academy  a  constituency  extending 
to  the  eastern  seaboard.  Rev.  W.  S.  Hampton  relinquished 
the  pastorate  of  six  frontier  churches  to  become  the  first 
principal.  Rev.  C.  S.  Harrison,  pastor  at  York,  assisted 
Republican  valley  pastors  in  evangelistic  work  and  gave 
tremendous  impulse  to  the  academy  movement.  Later,  in 
1884,  Mr.  Harrison  accepted  the  call  of  the  Franklin 
church  to  become  its  pastor.  As  pastor  of  the  church  and 
'father  of  the  academy,'  he  toiled  with  masterful  efficiency 
till  1892,  when  he  devoted  himself  to  the  wider  academy 
interests. 

"Mr.  Harrison  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  G.  W.  Mitchell, 
less  massive  in  form  but  mighty  in  faith,  love,  and  capacity 
for  effective  work.  As  pastor,  as  chairman  of  academy 
trustees,  as  member  of  association,  he  made  his  impress  on 
every  church  and  on  nearly  every  Congregational  house- 
hold in  southwestern  Nebraska  through  a  period  of  ten 
years. 

"Since  1888  Alexis  C.  Hart  has  been  headmaster  of  the 
academy.  Peerless  as  administrator,  as  teacher  of  youth, 
as  trainer  of  teachers,  he  has  proven  not  less  a  spiritual 
father  and  wise  counselor.  It  is  doubtful  whether  there  is 
a  church  in  the  Republican  valley  and  Frontier  associations 
that  has  not  been  helped  by  his  kind  and  timely  influence. 


142  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

"The  construction  of  the  'Kenesaw  Cut-off'  in  1884;  of 
the  DeWitt-Holdrege-Cheyenne  divisions  in  1885  and  1886, 
and  later  the  Frenchman  valley  line  of  the  Burlington  & 
Missouri  railroad  opened  many  fields  for  aggressive  work. 
At  its  fall  meeting  in  1887  the  Republican  Valley  Associa- 
tion adopted  a  memorial  to  the  State  Board  presenting  the 
urgent  need  and  asking  the  appointment  of  a  general  mis- 
sionary. .The  proposition  was  cordially  approved  at  Lincoln 
and  New  York.  Rev.  George  E.  Taylor,  pastor  at  Indianola, 
was  appointed  for  the  work.  The  association  authorized  its 
home  missionary  committee  to  hold  monthly  sessions  in 
conference  with  the  general  missionary.  The  following 
years  were  marked  by  careful  oversight  of  feeble  churches, 
prompt  occupation  of  new  and  needy  fields,  constant  en- 
deavor to  secure  effective  ministers,  the  equipment  of  each 
church  with  a  commodious  house  of  worship  and  progress 
of  churches  in  careful  and  forceful  administration. 

"In  1890  the  churches  along  the  Holdrege-Cheyenne  divi- 
sions of  the  Burlington  railroad  withdrew  from  the  Republi- 
can Valley  Association  to  form  the  Frontier  Association. 

"The  limits  of  this  review  do  not  permit  appreciative  men- 
tion of  many  worthy  ministers  and  laymen  whose  sustained 
devotion,  faithful  and  wise  labors  have  built  up  churches 
and  established  Christian  institutions  in  southwestern  Ne- 
braska. Some  are  yet  there,  some  are  in  other  fields,  and 
some  have  gone  to  their  reward.'' 

From  these  reports  of  the  work  in  southwestern  Ne- 
braska it  would  seem  that  the  foundations  of  our  Congrega- 
tional work  are  well  laid ;  that  Congregationalism  is  a 
growing  tree  whose  roots,  like  the  alfalfa  of  the  region, 
strike  down  deep  to  the  springs  of  living  water. 

The  Republican  valley  represents  a  strong  and  aggressive 
force  in  Congregational  Nebraska. 


PHASES  OF  CHURCH  GROWTH  143 

\vn:sTi:RX  xkhkaska 

Rev.  A.  E.  ivickcT,  who  has  had  much  to  do  with  the 
pioneer  work  in  western  Nebraska,  has  kindly  furnished  the 
following-  account  of  our  wcjrk  in  western  Nebraska : 

"In  the  autumn  of  18S3  a  httle  company  of  Christian 
people  met  in  the  parsonage  of  the  Methodist  minister  in 
the  town  of  Si(hiey.  It  was  a  very  small  company,  per- 
haps not  more  than  six  or  eight  persons,  including-  the 
Methodist  pastor.  Rev.  Leslie  Stevens,  now  departed  hence, 
and  his  devoted  wife.  The  occasion  of  that  meeting  was 
the  regular  prayer-meeting  of  the  Methodist-Episcopal 
Church  of  Sidney.  In  those  days  the  people  of  Sidney, 
however  pious  the}-  may  have  been,  did  not  manifest  their 
religious  proclivities  by  excessive  attendance  upon  the  week- 
day meeting  of  the  church. 

■'Though  this  particular  meeting  was  so  small  its  influence 
has  been  large.  Among  the  number  present  were  Rev.  C. 
W.  ]\Ierrill,  then  Superintendent  of  the  A.  H.  M.  S.  for 
Nebraska,  a  young  Congregational  preacher  who  was  that 
year  teaching  the  Sidne}'  high  school,  Rev.  L.  E.  Brown, 
and  the  writer  of  these  words,  who  was  just  about  to  begin 
study  for  the  ministry. 

"During  the  evening,  conversation  naturally  turned  to  the 
religious  needs  of  the  surrounding  regions  of  western  Ne- 
braska. The  town  of  Ogalalla,  especially,  was  mentioned 
as  a  point  of  a  few  hundred  people  where  there  was  no 
regular  preaching  and  almost  no  religious  work  on  foot. 

"Superintendent  IMerrill  turned  to  Mr.  Brown  with  the 
question,  'Why  couldn't  you  go  down  to  Ogalalla  and  preach 
for  them  occasionally,  during  the  time  you  are  teaching 
here?'  Little  more  was  said  on  the  subject,  and  presently 
the  little  company  scattered.  Although  it  is  probable  no 
definite  agreement  was  made,  I  think  there  was  an  under- 


144  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

standing  between  Superintendent  Merrill  and  Mr.  Brown, 
at  the  close  of  the  prayer-meeting,  that  the  latter  should 
visit  Ogalalla  and  establish  a  preaching  station.  This  was 
the  real  origin  of  the  Congregational  Church  of  Ogalalla, 
Keith  county,  Nebraska,  for  shortly  after  that  hint  of  Mr. 
Merrill's  Mr.  Brown  went  down  from  Sidney  to  Ogalalla, 
a  distance  of  seventy  miles,  and  preached,  leaving  an  ap- 
pointment for  another  preaching  service  in  two  weeks.  This 
appointment  was  filled,  the  writer  himself  being  present 
at  one  of  these  services,  which  was  held,  as  were  the  other 
meetings  of  that  period,  in  the  old  frame  schoolhouse.  And 
I  am  nearly  certain  that  Mr.  Brown  kept  up  preaching  ser- 
vices every  two  weeks  during  that  winter — 1883-84 — and 
the  following  summer,  and  quite  so  that  he  preached  fre- 
quently, even  if  not  so  often  during  this  time.  For  to  meet 
one  of  these  preaching  appointments  the  writer  made  his 
first  effort  in  the  pulpit;  this  was  June  9,  1884,  in  the 
schoolhouse  of  Ogalalla. 

"I  can  say  from  personal  knowledge  that  Mr.  Brown 
came  to  Ogalalla  as  a  Congregationalist,  and  that  his  work 
was  the  first  regular  and  permanent  work  ever  taken  up 
in  the  town.  The  school  board  of  Ogalalla  employed  Mr. 
Brown  to  teach  the  town  school  for  the  year  beginning 
September,  1884,  and  in  connection  with  his  work  as  teacher 
of  the  village  school,  he  kept  up  stated  preaching  services. 
He  was  presently  ordained  to  the  Gospel  ministry,  and  in 
due  time  a  Congregational  church  was  organized,  and 
recognized  by  an  ecclesiastical  council  in  the  orderly  Con- 
gregational way. 

"These  facts  are  of  considerable  importance  because  the 
Ogalalla  church  has  since  become  a  center  of  evangelistic 
movements  that  have  afifected  the  town  and  the  regions 
about  for  many  miles.  Following  Mr.  Brown's  work  have 
been  the  labors  of  Rev.  J.  A.  Thome,  closing  about  1887, 


PHASES  OF  CHURCH  GROWTH  145 

Rev.  A.  E.  Ricker,  188S-91 ;  Rev.  W.  E.  Pease,  1892-93 
])erhaps ;  Rev.  \\'.  S.  Hampton  for  several  years;  then  Rev. 
G.  W.  Knapp,  and  the  present  pastor,  Rev.  Mr.  Duncan. 

"During-  Mr.  Hampton's  pastorate  wide-reaching  revivals 
occurred,  and  the  work  was  pushed  into  outlying  rural  re- 
gions, resulting  in  the  organization  of  at  least  three  churches 
which  now  cluster  ahout  Ogalalla  as  a  center. 

"jULESBURG,  COLORADO 

''While,  strictly  speaking,  it  is  not  a  part  of  the  history 
of  Nebraska,  the  beginning  of  the  work  in  Julesburg  was  the 
outgrowth  of  Nebraska  influences,  and  indeed  during 
.Sui)erintendent  Maile's  time,  by  agreement  with  the  Colo- 
rado superintendent,  this  town  was  reckoned  as  a  part  of 
the  Nebraska  field. 

"In  the  spring  of  1885,  returning  from  Chicago  Seminary 
to  p.iy  parents'  home  in  Sidney,  I  called  on  Superintendent 
■\Iaile  in  Omaha,  and  he  suggested  that  during  my  summer 
vacation  I  look  about  m  that  western  part  of  the  state,  and 
if  I  found  a  needy  field,  establish  a  preaching  station,  and 
see  what  I  could  do.  So  early  in  May,  going  down  from 
Sidney,  I  visited  the  town  of  Julesburg.  It  was  in  the 
midst  of  the  liveliest  boom  and  buildings  were  going  up 
everywhere.  Perhaps  there  were  300  people  then  in  the 
town  and  'land  agents'  were  doing  a  thriving  business 
'locating'  new  corners  on  their  claims.  I  succeeded  in  find- 
ing some  Christian  people  and  others  who  were  interested 
in  having;  preaching  services.  Finding  accommodation  in 
the  dining  room  of  a  hotel,  I  held  the  first  religious  meet- 
ing in  tlie  history  of  the  town,  and  continued  preaching 
statedly  through  that  summer,  going  down  from  Sidney 
and  preaching  once  in  two  weeks.  , 

"A  vSabbath  school  was  organized  in  an  empty  saloon 
building,  and  toward  the  latter  part  of  the  summer,  a  Con- 
10 


146  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

gregational  church  was  organized  of  about  twelve  mem- 
bers. Rev.  H.  P.  Case,  now  Sunday  school  missionary  in 
southern  California,  was  present  and  assisted  in  the  or- 
ganization of  the  churcli.  The  meeting  for  the  organization 
was  held  in  the  waiting  room  of  the  Union  Pacific  depot, 
and  I  remember  that  the  meeting  had  to  be  hurried  a  bit 
to  get  out  of  the  way  and  remove  all  evidences  of  the  meet- 
ing before  a  passenger  train  went  through  toward  evening. 

"This  first  organization  was  suffered  to  lapse,  but  at  a 
later  date  was  revived  and  the  Julesburg  church  has  main- 
tained a  continued  existence. 

"It  was  my  privilege  again  to  minister  to  this  church 
for  about  a  year  from  the  summer  of  1890,  preaching  ever}' 
alternate  Sabbath  there  while  pastor  at  Ogalalla.  Two  or 
three  weeks  of  special  meetings  were  held  during  the  winter 
of  1(890-91,  several  converts  resulted,  part  of  them  joining 
the  Congregational  church,  and  part  of  them  the  M.  E. 
church,  wdiich  at  that  time  was  without  a  pastor." 

This  rapid  survey  of  Congregationalism  in  western  Ne- 
braska completes  the  survey  of  church  extension  as  we  have 
seen  it,  beginning  with  Omaha  and  eastern  Nebraska,  ex- 
tending up  the  Elkhorn  valley  and  into  the  sandhills  and 
cattle  ranges  of  the  northwest,  in  the  Republican  valley 
and  the  western  part  of  the  state. 

In  much  of  this  territory  pioneer  work  is  going  on  to-day, 
and  western  Nebraska  is  especially  home  missionary  ground. 
Whenever  irrigation  is  extended  in  western  Nebraska,  there 
we  find  rich  farms  and  growing  settlements,  and  there  is  a 
field  for  home  missionary  enterprise.  With  the  extension 
of  irrigation  canals  there  will  be  an  enlargement  of  mis- 
sionary work.  In  other  parts  of  the  western  half  of  the 
state  we  find  the  large  cattk  ranches,  with  few  settlers,  and 
correspondingly  small  opportunities  for  church  growth. 


riOXEKR   KXPF.klKNCKS  I47 

XX 

PiOXIiKR  KXPERHiNCKS 

Years  before  l-'atbcr  Gaylord  came  to  the  territory  of  Ne- 
braska, Congregationalism  had  a  Congregational  teacher 
among  the  Pawnee  Indians.  Mrs.  E.  G.  Piatt,  now  of  Ober- 
lin,  Ohio. 

Though  hardly  recovered  from  a  severe  illness  during 
which  for  days  she  was  supposed  to  be  lying  on  the  border- 
land between  this  and  the  life  beyond,  she  has  kindly  con- 
sented to  give  a  brief  account  of  her  experiences  among 
the  I'awnees.  It  is  fortunate  that  we  can  have  these  remi- 
niscences from  the  pen  of  Airs.  Piatt  herself.  The  oppor- 
tunity to  hear  from  any  of  the  nrst  pioneers  will  soon  be 
gone.     But  few  of  them  remain. 

Airs.  Piatt  writes: 

"Oberlix,  Ojiio,  Xovember  29,  1904. 

"In  1843  I  went  whli  my  huslxind,  L.  W.  Piatt,  to  the 
Pawnee  villages  situated  in  the  Indian  territory,  in  that  part 
of  the  land  nov.'  known  as  Nebraska.  We  went  in  response 
to  a  request  made  by  the  missionaries  of  the  A.  B.  C.  F.  M. 
who  were  stationed  there.  In  a  treaty  which  these  Indians 
made  with  our  government  they  were  promised  teachers, 
and  the  missionaries,  wishing  to  secure  those  who  would 
cooperate  \A'ith  them  in  their  work,  had  invited  us  to  join 
them.  We  were  successful  in  learning  to  converse  with 
the  Pawnees,  won  their  confiflence,  and  in  1846,  when  they 
started  on  their  summer  hunt,  tliev  left  twenty  of  their  chil- 
dren with  us  to  teach. 

"But  the  Sioux  came  down  upon  us  that  season,  often 
making  war-like  demonstrations,  thus  hindering  the   work 


MRS.   E,   G.   PLATT 


PIONEER    EXPERIENCES  I  49 

of  the  men  in  the  Rcld,  and  at  last  tiring'  upon  some  of  the 
company,  and  so  it  was  deemed  unsafe  to  remain,  and  all, 
both  missionaries  and  government  employees,  left  the  sta- 
tion, going  to  Ijellevue,  the  seat  of  Council  IjlutTs  agency 
for  the  Otoes,  Omahas,  and  Pawnees. 

"The  missionaries  were  requested  by  their  board  to  leave 
the  field,  but  we  remained  with  our  school. 

"There  was  no  agent  there  at  that  time,  as  our  good  tem- 
perance agent  had  been  dismissed  through  the  influence  of 
the  fur  traders,  as  he  had  given  orders  to  his  employees  to 
destroy  all  liquors  they  found  designed  for  sale  to  the 
Indians. 

"Finding  an  old  log  building  infested  with  fleas  and  rats, 
we  made  it  our  school  home  and  reported  to  the  superin- 
tendent of  western  Indians  who  was  in  St.  Louis,  the  build- 
ing being  a  government  storehoitse.  There,  under  many 
difficulties,  I  taught  the  children,  having  great  pleasure  in 
my  work,  as  they  learned  their  English  lessons  well,  de- 
lighting to  perform  any  work  given  them  to  do,  and  when 
given  a  play  time,  asking  for  Bible  stories  instead. 

"When  the  new  agent  arrived,  he  proved  to  be  a  man  with 
whom  whisky  lovers  and  dealers  readily  affiliated,  per- 
mitting the  Indians  near  the  agency  to  ride  through  its 
streets  with  bottles  of  the  vile  stuff  in  their  hands,  giving 
their  drunken  yell,  thus  so  alarming  us  at  the  school  it 
seemed  wise  to  draw  curtains,  lock  the  door,  and  go  to  the 
second  floor  where  we  would  not  be  seen. 

"The  winter  was  very  cold  which  we  spent  in  that  store- 
roon.i,  and  we  hailed  the  warmth  of  spring  joyfully.  Cut 
our  joy  was  of  short  duration,  as  the  new  agent  decided  on 
appointing  a  teacher  more  in  harmony  with  him,  and  in 
'Slav,  1847,  I  delivered  my  charge  with  aching  heart  to 
those  who.  I  knew,  would  not  do  duty  by  them  ;  and  cross- 
ing the  Missouri  river  ]\Ir.   Piatt  and   I  w^ent  down  and 


PIONEER   EXPERIENCES  I51 

made  our  homo  four  miles  above  old  Ft.  KeaiMiey,  now  Ne- 
braska City,  still  keeping-  a  friendly  conmiunication  with  the 
Pawnees  by  ^■isitino■  the:ii.  receivin.q-  them  as  guests,  and 
keeping  one  or  more  of  them  in  our  family. 

"In  1857  the  Pawnees  made  a  new  treaty  with  our  govern- 
ment, as  they  had  wandered  hither  and  thither  during 
the  years  of  our  separation. 

'^'\gain  they  were  pledged  teachers,  and  after  waiting 
four  years  to  learn  of  the  establishment  of  a  school,  and 
finding  none  had  been  given  them,  in  1861  we  returned,  I 
being  appointed  as  teacher  and  Mr.  Piatt  as  trader,  a  posi- 
tion which,  through  treachery,  he  never  filled  on  the  reser- 
vation, and  it  was  months  before  I  was  permitted  to  have  a 
room  in  v/hich  I  could  open  a  school. 

"This  was  not  accomplished  till  a  company  of  the  em- 
ployees to  whom  the  agent  had  failed  to  fulfil  his  pledges 
tmited  and  so  proved  their  case  at  W^ashington  that  he  was 
removed,  and  one  sent  who  permitted  the  gatherinig  of  the 
school.  This  was  not  difficult  to  do  as  we  spoke  Pawaiee 
and  many  of  our  old  friends  were  left. 

"Aly  work  was  pleasant  and  all  went  prosperously  till  a 
young  Methodist  minister  was  sent  to  assist  in  the  school. 
The  Methodists  of  Nebraska,  learning  there  was  an  appro- 
priation for  schools  for  the  Pawnees,  wished  to  obtain  it  to 
establish  a  mission  among  them,  and  as  there  was  one  of 
their  society  at  the  head  of  the  Indian  Department  at  that 
time  they  felt  quite  sure  of  obtaining  it. 

"Good  Congregationalist  as  I  tried  to  be,  I  made  an 
effort  to  harmonize  wdth  my  associate  teacher,  but  in  1864 
it  seemed  wise  for  us  to  separate,  lest  those  who  had  come 
to  that  savage  people  in  the  name  of  the  Prince  of  Peace 
sliould  dishonor  their  Leader:  and  I  kft  my  beloved  school, 
going  to  work  in  the  Christian  Commission  till  the  close 
of  the  war,  and  then  acting  as  matron  for  the  Iowa  Soldiers' 


152  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

Orphan  Home  till  in  1866  I  was  called  back  to  take  charge 
of  my  Pawnee  school.  There  being  an  Episcopalian  in 
charge  of  the  agency  at  that  time, .  Bishop  Clarkson  of 
blessed  memory  asked  the  rector  of  the  Columbus  church, 
Rev.  Mr.  Goodale,  to  look  after  the  lambs  in  the  Pawnee 
school.  As  he  was  the  son  of  a  Congregational  minister,  we 
wrought  together  most  pleasantly.  During  his  stay  with 
us,  coming  each  month  to  hold  service  in  the  school  build- 
ing, there  was  a  large  class  desiring  baptism,  and  by  his 
request  properly  to  instruct  them  as  to  the  meaning  and 
design  of  the  solemn  sacrament,  I  used  a  catechism  prepared 
by  his  society  for  instructing  the  young,  and  found  it  very 
helpful. 

"The  Sabbath  morning  when  the  ceremony  was  to  occur, 
as  I  passed  through  one  of  the  halls,  a  small  girl  who  had 
been  present  during  the  training  of  the  class,  but  had  not 
been  reckoned  as  one,  met  me  and  in  beseeching  tones  said, 
'Mrs.  Piatt,  I  want  to  be  baptized.'  'O  Maria,'  I  said,  T  am 
afraid  you  do  not  understand.'  With  pathetic  tone  and 
look  she  answered,  'Yes,  I  do.' 

"Consulting  with  Mr.  Goodale,  we  decided  if  a  lamb  stood 
bleating  at  the  gate,  we  would  not  forbid  her  entering  the 
fold,  and  she  v/as  baptized  with  the  twenty-seven. 

"While  absent  on  my  vacation  that  summer  she  died,  and 
my  assistant  teacher  told  me  that  the  morning  of  her  death 
she  said  to  Maria,  'Do  you  know  we  think  God  will  call 
vou  to  Himself  to-day?'    Her  answer  was  'I  am  ready.' 

"Our  good  helper  continued  with  us  till  Grant's  Quaker 
policy  was  inaugurated,  when  his  church  thought  it  honor- 
able to  withdraw,  and  he  left  the  field  for  others  to  occupy. 

"The  Rev.  Mr.  Elliott,  who  was  a  home  missionary  sta- 
tioned at  Columbus  twenty  miles  distant,  soon  visited  me, 
he  being  a  Congregationalist,  and  I  a  charter  member  of 
the  church  in  his  care.  With  his  wife  he  often  came  to 
hold  service  and  give  aid  and  courage  to  those  of  us  con- 


I'lOXEliK    liXI'KKlliXCKS  I  53 

iioctctl  w  ith  tb.c  school.  While  he  was  thus  assistin^^  us 
one  of  our  caretakers  asked  for  baptism,  and  two  of  our 
Indian  boys  wished-  to  unite  with  her.  They  were  brothers, 
and  the  elder  was  one  who  was  obliged  to  assist  the  men 
on  the  reservation  farm.  The  younger  was  a  gentle,  loving 
brother.  They  hesitated  about  presenting  themselves,  as 
~the  elder  brother  feared  he  should  dishonor  the  Savior  by 
getting  angry  when  the  farm  men  swore  at  and  kicked  him, 
but  as  the  younger  refused  to  go  without  him  they  at  last 
pledged  themselves  to  the  service  of  our  Lord  in  the  coveted 
rite.  The  younger,  our  gentle  Richard,  was,  soon  after  called 
to  leave  us  for  his  Heavenly  Home. 

"Our  Quaker  agent  was  catholic  in  his  views,  and  the 
years  we  wrought  together  were  those  of  Christian  friend- 
ship. But  at  last  there  came  an  editor  from  the  East  to 
view  our  work,  and  on  his  return  he  commenced  his  report 
by  writing,  'It  is  just  two  years  since  an  effort  was  com- 
menced to  christianize  and  civilize  the  Pawnees,'  and  closed 
by  adding,  Tt  is  very  incongruous  that  a  school  under  the 
rule  of  the  Friends  should  be  in  charge  of  an  orthodox 
Congregationalist.' 

"It  was  not  long  before  I  was  requested  to  leave  my 
children,  and  with  a  heart  full  of  sorrow  I  went. 

"Between  these  lines  lie  veiled  volumes  of  broken  govern- 
mental treaties,  of  robbery  and  deceit  and  treachery  and 
uncleanness  practiced  by  those  sent  to  the  Pawnees  to  teach 
them  the  arts  of  civilization  which  proved  to  be  to  them  a 
curse,  and  which,  if  uncovered,  would  lead  us  to  feel  it  were 
better  that  they  had  been  left  in  their  waldness  and 
ignorance. 

"Yours  in  Christian  bonds, 

"Mrs.  E.  G.  Platt." 

Mrs.  Piatt's  severe  arraignment  of  government  ofificials 
only  shows  that  in  too  many  cases  the  government  has  been 


154 


CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 


as  treaclierons  in  its  dealings  with  the  Indians  as  have 
been  the  Indians  before  their  christianization  in  their  rela- 
tions to  the  whites. 

The  treatment  of  the  Indians  by  the  government  is  a  sad 
chapter  in  American  history,  and   Mrs.   Piatt's  experience 


ai\".    C.    S.     HARRISON 


among  the  Pawnees  shows  how  politics  enters  in  to  disturb 
a  Vi'Ork  which,  if  protected,  would  result  in  great  good. 


REV.    C.    S.    HARRISON 


All  Nebraskans  know  Rev.  C.  S.  Harrison  as  a  cultivator 
and  propagator  of  beautiful  and  rare  plants  and  flowers. 


rioxEi-:R  i:xri:Kii-:Nci^s  155 

But  tlic  pioneers  know  him  better  as  a  courageous,  Ixjld, 
successful,  and  devoted  ])ionecr  preacher  and  worker.  15y 
re([uest  Mr.  Harrison  has  furnished  the  following- 

REMINISCENCES 

'.'Jn  the  fall  of  '71  while  pastor  of  the  Congregational 
church  of  Earlville,  Illinois,  I  received  a  request  frt)ni 
George  S.  Harris,  land  commissioner  of  the  Burlington  & 
Missouri  railroad,  to  take  charge  of  a  colony.  I  came  out 
to  look  the  ground  over. 

■'Lincoln  was  but  a  village  with  plenty  of  room  to  grow. 
The  railroad  terminus  was  Sutton.  1  rode  out  on  a  load 
of  railroad  ties.  The  track  was  so  rough  the  bell  rang  of 
its  own  accord.  Sutton  had  three  shanties ;  two  of  these 
were  saloons,  and  I  noticed  that  towns  started  that  way 
were  tainted  for  a  long  time  after  if  not  permanently. 

■'Finally  York  was  settled  upon.  The  place  had  six  shan- 
ties, and  one  of  these  was  built  of  sod.  I  believe  I  preached 
the  first  sermon  in  York.  November.  1871.  Service  was 
held  in  an  unfinished  store,  and  it  was  very  cold.  There 
were  fourteen  persons  present  and  the  service  was  short. 
The  county  was  new  and  raw ;  hardly  a  house  to  obstruct 
the  vision,  and  those  that  were  seen  were  miserably  built  of 
sod.  The  Congregational  church  was  organized  with  only 
a  few  members  in  an  unfinished  land  office  in  the  spring  of 
1872.    Soon  after  a  little  schoolhouse  was  built. 

"the   ACADEAIY 

"One  of  the  inducements  ofi:'ered  a  colony  was.  that  an 
academy  should  be  built.  For  this  purpose  forty  acres  of 
land  were  donated,  and  in  those  early  days,  when  the  locust 
invasion  was  the  worst,  a  fine  building  went  up  as  a  glorious 
hope  in  the  midst  of  despair. 


156  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

"On  account  of  its  proximity  to  Crete  it  was  thought  best 
not  to  open  the  academy.  It  was  used  for  our  church. 
About  this  time  the  Methodists  located  their  college  at  York, 
and  we  freely  gave  them  the  use  of  the  building.  It  was 
eventually  sold  at  half  cost,  and  the  proceeds  went  into  the 
church  building.  I  think  in  the  year  1873  I  organized  the 
church  at  Arborville  with  six  members,  in  the  parlor  of 
Deacon  Twichell,  the  son  of  a  faithful  pioneer  missionary, 
Rev.  Royal  Twichell,  who  did  heroic  work  in  Minnesota. 
The  old  man  was  a  father  to  me  when,  sick  and  discouraged, 
1  went  to  that  new  state  in  1857.  I  attended  his  funeral  in 
Arborville.    It  was  like  burying  a  father. 

"Having  organized  a  church  I  knew  it  was  necessary  for 
them  to  have  a  home,  and  so  we  erected  a  building  26  x  40. 
That  was  then  the  largest  in  the  county.  I  held  at  different 
times  two  series  of  meetings  there  which  resulted  in  quite 
an  ingathering.  We  had  to  haul  the  lumber  thirty-six 
miles.  I  gave  much  time  and  a  block  of  land,  and  preached 
a  year  or  two  without  a  cent  of  salary.  The  people  were 
very  poor.  But  now  they  have  a  fine  new  church,  an  able 
and  beloved  pastor,  and  the  work  and  sacrifice  paid.  Six 
churches  were  organized  in  York  county,  and  those  I  or- 
ganized and  fostered  are  the  only  ones  alive. 

"the  liquor  WAR 

"Yes,  it  was  war !  I  was  the  means  of  bringing  in  about 
600  people  into  the  town  and  county  and  these  w^ere  mostly 
in  favor  of  education  and  temperance.  But  'Satan  came 
also,'  and  we  determined  to  keep  him  out,  and  so  there  v/as 
war.     , 

"At  first,  knowing  the  tremendous  malignity  of  the  liquor 
power,  we  were  afraid  to  prosecute.  Finally  I  suggested 
that  seven  of  us  should  unite.  We  did  so,  and  with  such  a 
backing  there  was  dismay  in  the  ranks.    That,  hovk'ever,  was 


I'lONEliR    KXl'KRlliNCKS  157 

• 

the  timidity  under  the  first  fire.  When  they  threatened  to 
kill  nie  and  started  out  to  do  so,  and  nearly  killed  a  witness, 
all  fear  was  hanished,  and  I  entered  prosecutions  thick  and 
fast.  1  raised  $1,500  one  night  with  which  to  fight  it  out. 
We  fought  to  the  finish.  The  thing  seems  settled.  The 
matter  does  not  come  up  at  all  at  our  elections. 

''Crete  and  Seward  had  a  far  better  start,  and  far  better 
locations,  but  York  went  ahead  two  to  one  because  it  kept 
clean.     It  has  over  6,000  population  to-day. 

"It  was  hard  to  give  up  the  academy  idea.  Our  edu- 
cators had  not  yet  realized  the  importance  of  having  feeders 
for  the  college,  and  it  was  a  long  time  before  the  present 
attitude  was  reached. 

"In  the  last  of  the  '70s  I  was  helping  Rev.  Mr.  Strong  in 
a  series  of  meetings  in  Rloomington,  Nebraska,  and  the  idea 
of  an  academy  came  up.  We  talked  till  midnight  over  it. 
'Where  should  it  be?'  'At  Franklin,'  a  new  town  with  six 
houses,  no  saloon,  and  the  right  kind  of  people.  I  was  so 
much  impressed  that  T  walked  down,  wading  through  snow- 
drifts, got  the  leading  people  together,  outlined  the  plan, 
and  the  academy  was  located  there.  I  was  called  in  1883 
from  the  pastorate  of  Pueblo,  Colorado,  to  become  pastor 
at  Franklin.  I  put  in  there  eight  of  the  most  important 
years  of  my  life.  It  was  a  work  of  faith,  in  ways  new  and 
strange.  The  Lord  opened  unseen  gates  for  us,  and  money 
rained  down  upon  us,  twice  $500;  once  $1,000. 

"I  was  called  thence  to  be  Field  Secretary  of  the  Educa- 
tion Society  at  Boston.  I  continued  in  that  work  two  years, 
till  my  health  failed. 

"Rising  from  the  borders  of  the  grave  from  rheumatic 
fever,  I  was  called  to  the  pastorate  of  the  Weeping  Water 
church.  There  I  had  the  hardest  work  in  my  life.  The 
church  was  about  $10,000  in  debt,  and  discouraged.  The 
times    were   the   hardest.      The   academy   was   worse   than 


158  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

bankrupt.  Tlie  church  debt  was  paid.  The  academy  was 
placed  on  the  list  of  the  Education  Society,  and  a  good  deal 
of  money  was  raised.  Buildings  were  hired  and  furnished, 
and  to  crown  all,  a  blessed  revival  added  over  100  to  the 
church  within  a  month. 

"Now  the  nation  on  Thanksgiving  Day,  1904,  celebrates 
my  seventy-second  birthday,  and  I  bless  the  Lord  that  He 
has  permitted  me  to  live  and  work  for  Him. 

'"When  a  bo}^  in  1844  I  hunted  the  dirty  little  village  of 
Chicago  over  for  a  peck  of  potatoes.  I  have  seen  the 
mighty  West  grow  up  from  babyhood. 

"In  1857  I  began  Vork  in  Minnesota;  was  often  nearly 
frozen ;  once  a  horse  sank  with  me  three  times  and  I  was 
nearly  drowned.     I  have  had  the  bitter  with  the  sweet. 

"To  sum  up :  I  helped  to  found  two  academies ;  built 
and  paid  for  ten  churches ;  have  been  in  above  forty  pre- 
cious revivals,  and  I  hope  to  meet  a  thousand  souls  in  glory. 
And  I  now  wait  on  the  hither  shore  among  my  flowers, 
adorning  Eculah  Land,  making  it  prophetic  of  the  glory 
beyond. 

"Yours, 

"C.   S.  Harrison." 

REV.    A.    a.    CRESSMAN 

Rev.  A.  A.  Cressman  served  in  the  work  of  the  churches 
for  twenty-five  years,  most  of  the  time  as  a  home  mission- 
ary.    A  brief  sketch  of  his  work  in  Nebraska  is  here  given: 

"I  came  into  Nebraska  from  the  Presbyterian  church  in 
Monroeville,  Ohio,  in  March.  1879.  I  took  charge  of  the 
Congregational  church  at  Camp  Creek,  where  T  remained 
one  year.  I  organized  a  church  at  Sheridan  which  after- 
ward disbanded ;  was  called  to  Congregational  church  at 
Albion.      The   organization   was   small,   having   no   church 


pioNKKK  kxi'i:rii".xcks  159 

building'.  I  served  also  every  alternate  Sunday  the  ehurches 
at  Boone  and  Cedar  Ra])ids  for  several  years.  Both  churches 
later  disbanded.  I  was  at  Albion  six  years ;  while  there  a 
house  of  worship  was  erected  and  the  church  brou^2;ht  to 
self-support.      Durino-   this    time    1    also    served   as    county 


REV.   A.   A.   CRESSMAN 

superintendent  ot  schools  for  four  years,  and  preached  at 
a  number  of  schoolhouses. 

"A  more  devoted  and  loyal  people  I  never  served.  In 
April,  t886.  I  took  charge  of  the  Congregational  church 
at  Wahoo,  ha\  ing-  a  membership  of  some  twenty-five.  We 
paid  a  debt  of  $300  on  Ixnld'ng,  and  built  a  commodious 
parsonage.      The   cliurch.   contriliuLed   $900   for   l^enevolent 


l6o  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

objects  other  than  her  own  work,  and  received  eighty-six 
members,  of  whom  sixty-six  were  received  on  confession 
of  faith.  I  resigned,  April  i,  1892,  after  serving  the  chnrch 
six  years.  While  at  Wahoo  I  was  secretary  of  the  city 
school  board. 

"I  commenced  my  pastorate  of  four  and  a  half  years 
with  the  church  at  Fairmont,  April  i,  1892.  There  we 
built  a  parsonage,  paid  a  church  debt,  raised  over  $700  for 
benevolences.  The  church  was  self-supporting.  I  also 
served  during  this  pastorate  the  churches  at  Strang,  Shick- 
ley,  and  Bnming,  preaching  at  all  three  churches  once  a 
month,  for  which  I  received  home  missionary  aid.  I  was 
also  a  member  of  the  Fairmont  school  board  for  two  years. 
While  pastor  here  ninety-six  members  were  received,  sixty 
of  v/hom  came  into  the  church  on  confession  of  faith. 

"I  resigned  September  i,  1896,  to  become  state  secretary 
of  Doane  College,  which  position  I  held  until  September  i, 
190 1.  While  secretary  the  first  two  years  I  supplied  every 
Sunday  the  church  at  Grafton,  and  the  next  two  years  the 
church  at  Waverly,  and  for  a  few  months  the  Rokeby 
church.  As  secretary  I  visited  and  addressed  nearly  all 
the  high  schools  in  the  state,  and  most  of  them  a  number  of 
times,  traveling  over  65,000  miles.  I  preached  in  nearly 
all  the  Congregational  churches  in  the  state,  and  lectured 
over  200  times  in  the  interest  of  institutes  and  high  schools. 
T  sers'ed  as  chaplain  in  th.e  state  senate  of  Nebraska  during 
the  sessions  of  1899  and  1901. 

"I  took  charge  of  the  church  at  Grand  Island,  September 
I,  T901,  and  remained  as  pastor  until  March  i,  1904,  when 
1  left  to  take  charge  of  my  present  field,  Farragut,  Iowa, 
rounding  out  just  twenty-fi\e  years  of  service  in  Nebraska. 
During  this  time  I  received  into  the  church  by  letter  no; 
on  confession  of  faith  180;  total  290.  I  officiated  at  130 
funerals  and  65  weddings,  was  Moderator  of  the  General 


PIONEER    EXPERIENCES  l6l 

Association   at   Hoklrege   in    iS*.j(j,   and   have   been   elected 
.delej^ate  to  five  National  Councils. 

'"When  I  wenr  to  Albion  in  j88o  most  of  tlie  houses  out- 
side of  town  wore  built  of  sod,  and  so  were  the  schoolhouses. 
It  seems  to  me  my  happiest  days  were  \\'hen  visitino^  in, 
and  ])reaching'  to  ]-e()ple  crowded  into  these  sod  liouses. 
The  people  in  those  early  days  were  eag'cr  to  listen  to 
Gospel  truths.  They  did  not  remain  at  home  on  account 
of  poor  clothes  or  distance  from  place  of  preaching;-.  They 
came  in  all  sorts  of  clothes  and  vehicles.  Many  walked 
three  and  four  miles  to  the  sod  schoolhouse  where  the  Sun- 
day school  and  services  were  held.  A  larj^e  number  of  the 
young"  people  ni  the  Sunday  school  then  are  now  the  fore- 
most leaders  in  our  churches.  The  seed  sown  is  yielding 
fruit  in  many  cases  a  hundred  fold." 

One  must  read  between  the  lines  in  such  a  rapid  survey 
of  work  to  appreciate  fully  the  busy  life  of  a  i:»ioneer  pastor. 

DR.   GEORGE  SCOTT 

Rev.  Dr.  Scott  is  an  Englishman  who  came  into  Ne- 
braska in  an  early  day,  worked  with  a  sister  denomination 
for  a  time  until  he  finally  "came  unto  his  own."  He  has 
also  served  the  government  as  United  States  consul  in 
Odessa,  Russia,  from  1884  to  1886,  and  is  well  known  in 
afifairs  of  state.  He  served  as  chaplain  of  the  Nebraska 
house  of  representatives  in  a  special  session  in  1882,  and  in 
the  regular  sessions  of  1883  and  of  1903. 

Dr.  Scott  writes  as  follows : 

"While  I  was  engaged  in  missionary  work  among  the 
coal  miners  in  the  north  of  England,  the  call  came  for  men 
to  preach  the  Gospel  in  the  great  West  to  the  large  body  of 
immigrants  who  had  gone  to  the  states  after  the  close 
of  the  Civil  war. 
11 


1 62  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

'"I  felt  perfectly  sure  that  a  mail  could  be  secured  to  fill 
my  position  in  England  very  much  easier  than  for  the 
work  across  the  sea.  So  although  I  had  been  in  this  par- 
ticular work  for  six  years,  and  was  much  attached  to  it,  I 
decided  to  heed  the 'call,  and  in  May,  1871,  I,  with  my  wife 
and  infant  son,  started  for  Nebraska. 

"We  entered  Nebraska  from  Sioux  City,  Iowa,  at  Cov- 
ington, and  thence  toward  the  frontier,  fifty  miles  from 
railroad,  with  the  mail  carrier  in  his  open  democrat  wagon. 
"The  people  had  not  had  a  minister  for  a  year,  and  al- 
though they  v/ere  anxious  for  one,  they  had  not  expected 
one  and  had  made  no  provision  for  him.  There  was  no 
parsonage  nor  any  house  that  could  be  rented,  so  we  lived 
around  among  the  people  in  their  poor  narrow  quarters. 
The  hearty  welcome  accorded  us  compensated  for  the  rough- 
ness of  the  living. 

"I  found  that  the  only  place  for  holding  meetings  was 
in  a  poor  log  schoolhouse  with  rough  home-made  benches. 
But  the  old  schoolhouse  became  a  Bethel  to  many. 

"That  winter  we  held  a  series  of  meetings  lasting  for 
thirty  nights,  to  which  many  came  regularly,  even  as  far 
as  twelve  miles,  and  great  numbers  were  converted.  We 
knew  that  there  could  be  no  permanent  success  without  a 
church  home,  so  every  one  put  his  shoulder  to  the  work, 
and  the  next  summer  a  church  building  and  parsonage  were 
built  and  dedicated,  out  of  debt. 

"When  we  got  into  the  new  clean  church  the  men  kept 
up  their  old  practice  of  chewing  tobacco  and  making  the 
floor  a  cuspidor,  as  they  had  in  the  old  schoolhouse.  I 
made  up  my  mind  that  this  must  be  stopped,  so  before 
preaching  one  Sunday  morning;  I  said,  'You  people  used 
to  chew  tobacco  and  spit  all  about  the  schoolhouse,  but  now 
we  are  in  a  beautiful  church  building  and  I  wish  you  would 
not  do  it.    I  know  it  will  be  hard  work  for  some  of  you  to 


PIONEER   EXPERIENCES  1 63 

quit  for  an  hour,  but  if  you  make  an  effort  I  believe  you 
can  do  it.  Jf  you  can  not  succeed  we  will  get  a  log  of  wood 
and  place  it  outside  the  door,  on  which  you  can  place  your 
quid  when  you  come  in,  and  it  will  not  be  considered  an 
interruption  of  the  service,  if  you  find  you  can  not  endure 
the  abstinence,  if  you  retire  and  take  your  quid  and  chew 
it  a  few  times  and  then  return  to  the  church.'  I  added, 
'I'll  guarantee  that  you  will  find  your  tobacco  where  you 
placed  it,  for  there  is  not  a  hog  in  town  that  would  touch 
it."     The  cure  was  perfect. 

"Xext  summer  the  grasshoppers  came  in  such  numbers 
that  the  heavens  were  darkened.  Wherever  they  alighted, 
in  a  few  hours  the  crops  were  destroyed.  The  people  were 
helpless ;  nothing  to  sell ;  no  money  to  be  had.  Many  be- 
came subjects  of  charity.  For  a  long  time  I  had  not  enough 
money  to  buy  a  postage  stamp.  Friends  in  England  offered 
to  send  money  to  take  us  back  again ;  our  answer  was,  'We 
have  made  our  choice  to  preach  the  Gospel  to  this  people, 
and  we  v.-ill  continue  to  work  here.' 

"These  were  hard  times,  but  it  paid.  Sixteen  years  after 
this  I  returned  to  visit  one  of  the  settlements.  I  preached 
to  them  two  evenings  and  held  a  fellowship  meeting.  In 
the  experiences  that  were  given,  numbers  testified  that  they 
were  converted  in  the  old  log  schoolhouse  sixteen  years  be- 
fore. Among  those  giving  experiences  was  the  pastor  of 
the  church,  who  said,  'I  was  converted  at  the  close  of  a 
meeting  held  by  Brother  Scott  in  my  father-in-law's  house.' 
His  wife  bore  the  same  testimony.  It  pays  to  make  sacrifice 
for  the  Lord. 

"The  harness  that  I  was  required  to  wear  for  seven  and 
one-half  years  in  Nebraska  never  did  fit  me,  so  I  determined 
to  put  it  aside  and  chose  a  system  of  church  government 
that  was  more  in  accord  with  mv  views. 


164  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

"In  the  fall  of  1878  I  made  application  for  admission  into 
the  Columbus  Association  of  Congregational  Churches. 
After  due  and  strict  examination  I  was  accepted. 

"The  Rev.  Hiram  Gates,  who  was  then  Superintendent 
of  Home  Missions,  asked  me  what  I  intended  to  do  and 
where  I  expected  to  preach.  My  answer  was  that  I  did  not 
come  to  the  Congregational  church  for  financial  consid- 
erations, nor  to  step  into  work  commenced  by  others,  but 
intended  to  go  to  West  Point  and  Wisner  to  organize  two 
Congregational  churches  and  bring  them  with  me  into  this 
fellowship.  And  imder  God's  leadership  and  blessing  this 
was  accomplished.  The  church  building  which  now  stands 
in  West  Point  was  erected  during  that  pastorate.  After 
serving  three  other  churches  I  am  back  again  at  Wisner, 
one  of  my  first  Congregational  fields." 

REV.    JOHN   GRAY 

Rev.  John  Gray  represents  still  another  type  of  pioneer 
life  and  work.  From  a  lengthy  communication,  for  all  of 
which  there  is  not  place,  the  following  extracts  are  taken : 

"At  the  suggestion  of  Superintendent  Gates  I  went  to 
Sutton  and  preached  for  them  on  Sunday,  and  then  visited 
Kearney,  where  I  in\/ested  in  land.  Coming  back  to  Sutton, 
I  returned  to  my  home  in  London,  Illinois,  and  there  de- 
cided to  accept  my  call  to  Sutton.  'Grasshoppers  or  no 
grasshoppers,  I  would  go  there.' 

"I  preached  my  farewell  sermon  in  Lyndon  from  the  text, 
'The  steps  of  a  good  man  are  ordered  by  the  Lord.'  The 
next  day,  riding  with  Simeon  Gilbert,  the  axle  of  the  buggy 
broke,  and  stepping  out  on  a  rolling  stone,  I  broke  my 
ankle,  and  was  laid  up  seven  Aveeks.  'How  about  that  step?' 
said  one  of  the  facetious.  'Oh,  it  is  all  right,'  I  replied. 
The  saints  collected  $75  for  me  to  help  me  in  this  calamity. 
The  sinners  said,  'We  have  never  done  anything  for  Mr. 


Rev.  John  Gray- 
Rev.  Geo.  E.  Hal 


Rev.  J.  E.  Storm 
Rev.  G.  W.  Wainwright 


1 66  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

Gray ;  let  us  do  as  well  as  the  saints,'  and  so  they  brought 
me  $75  also. 

'"After  seven  weeks  of  inaction  I  thought  I  was  well 
enough  to  travel.  The  people  said,  'Do  not  go  out  West 
where  you  will  have  to  feed  your  children  on  grasshopper 
soup.'  But  T  said,  'I  must  go  to  those  poor  people  as  I 
promised.'  'Well  then,'  they  said,  'we  will  put  vegetables 
and  provisions  on  your  car  to  provide  some  living  for  you.' 
So  they  brought  potatoes,  squashes,  and  other  vegetables 
to  supply  our  needs.  Alas !  they  were  all  frozen.  During 
the  grasshopper  winter  friends  from  Illini,  Illinois,  sent 
barrels  of  wheat,  oats,  corn,  and  potatoes  as  their  contribu- 
tion to  Congregational ists  in  Nebraska. 

"When  I  reached  Siitton  there  was  no  decent  house  to 
be  obtained,  so  I  had  to  pack  my  wife  and  six  children  and 
furniture  into  an  unpleasant  shack  12  x  14  feet  which  had 
been  used  for  a  stable.  I  began  to  preach  in  the  courthouse 
and  afterward  we  hired  the  Odd  Fellows'  hall.  People 
came  to  the  services. 

"That  winter,  after  New  Year's,  was  three  days'  storm, 
three  days  finer  weather.  The  week  of  prayer  I  began 
meetings  and  continued  them  everv^  fine  night  for  seven 
weeks.  There  was  quite  a  revival,  and  the  membership  of 
the  church  was  increased  from  about  thirteen  to  thirty. 

"During  December  we  had  a  series  of  fellowship  meet- 
ings. Brothers  Bross  and  Piatt  traveling  on  train,  Brother 
French  and  I  by  team.  We  held  one  all-night  meeting  at 
each  town  from  Ashland  to  the  first  station  beyond  Hastings 
encouraging  the  people  and  doing  good. 

"As  soon  as  spring  came  we  started  to  build  a  church  at 
Sutton,  though  impoverished  by  the  grasshoppers.  I  said, 
'We  can  build.  Tlie  C.  C.  B.  S.  will  help  us  $500.'  This 
enthused  them  so  that  saint  and  sinner  started  into  the 
work.     One  man  opposed.     A  profane  man  with  an  oath 


PIONEER   EXPERIENCES  1 67 

replied,  'Go  home;  little  Gray  has  started  into  building  a 
church,  and  we  are  going  to  help  him,  and  don't  you  talk 
against  it.' 

"One  told  me  several  years  afterward,  'Gray,  you  came 
to  me  al'out  the  thiid  one  for  a  subscription  for  the  church 
building.  I  put  down  a  liberal  sum,  but  I  never  expected  to 
pay  it.  You  were  so  smart  in  earnest,  that  I  did  not  dare 
to  discourage  you,  but  I  thought  when  you  got  further  along  ' 
you  would  get  discouraged  and  give  it  up.'  'But  you  found,' 
I  spid,  'I  was  not  that  kind  of  man,  but  went  through  with 
the  thing,  till  it  was  done  and  paid  for,  and  you  remember 
that  the  lumberman  in  Omaha  said  that  he  had  never  been 
paid  as  promptly  by  any  church  as  he  had  by  the  church-  at 
Sutton.' 

"Having  finished  the  church  at  Sutton  I  raised  a  sub- 
scription of  $1,000  for  a  church  at  Harvard.  During  all 
this  time  I  had  not  neglected  preaching  in  every  school- 
house  about  four  miles  apart  in  all  the  northern  part  of 
Clay  county.  North  and  south,  east  and  west  of  Harvard 
I  established  Sabbath  schools  and  preaching  stations,  and 
had  I  had  more  experience  I  would  have  organized  churches. 
But  I  was  new  to  the  West,  and  simply  wanted  to  preach 
the  Gospel  to  all  th.e  people  I  could  reach.  Sometimes  I 
preached  five  times  on  a  Sabbath.  My  good  team  got  the 
schoolhouse  habit  and  would  stop  of  their  own  accord  at 
every  schoolhouse,  supposing  of  course  that  their  master 
would  hold  a  service. 

"\Miile  at  Sutton  the  grasshoj^pers  had  so  impoverished 
the  people  that  times  Vv^ere  hard.  The  merchants  could  give 
no  credit.  I  was  refused  trust  for  a  bag  of  flour.  A 
wealthy  Russian  loaned  me  $100.  There  was  no  bank  at 
Sutton  in  those  days.  A  great  many  of  the  farmers  suf- 
fered severely.  I  weut  to  see  the  sick,  and  as  long  as  mv 
pocket  A\ould  stand  it,  I  would  take  a  parcel  of  meat  and 


l68  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

groceries  with  me,  and  while  I  was  praying"  with  the  sick 
my  boy  would  manage  to  convey  the  parcel  into  the  house 
where  they  would  find  it  after  we  were  gone.  In  many 
cases  sickness  was  caused  by  lack  of  nourishing  food. 
When  my  own  pocket  gave  out  I  wrote  eastern  friends 
who  furnished  me  with  clothing  and  money,  so  that  I  could 
supply  the  needs  of  the  people.  Men  came  to  church  with 
their  feet  tied  up  in  rags  to  keep  them  warm.  It  was  hard 
times  indeed. 

"Later  on  I  preached  at  Wahoo,  Cedar  Bluff,  Weston, 
and  other  places,  and  sometimes  I  would  cover  forty  miles 
Saturday  and  Sunday  ridin.g  to  my  appointments,  but  I 
never  failed,  blizzard  or  no  blizzard.  I  encountered  storms 
of  wind  and  dust,  rain  and  snow.  I  have  been  so  cold  that 
I  had  to  be  lifted  from  the  buggy  almost  frozen.  A  brother 
said  to  me  once,  'Brother  Gray,  if  I  keep  on  preaching  and 
give  up  farming  I  shall  be  as  poor  ten  years  from  now  as  I 
am  to-day,  but  if  I  give  up  preaching  and  go  on  farming  in 
ten  years  I  will  be  worth  Sio,ooo.'  I  said,  'Woe  is  me  if  I 
preach  not  the  Gospel,  I  shall  go  on  with  preaching.' 
'W^ell,'  he  said,  'I  sliall  farm.'  I  saw  him  later  on  at  York, 
and  reminded  him  of  what  he  said.  'I  don't  remember  say- 
ing that,'  he  replied,  'but  I  have  the  $10,000.'  'All  right,' 
I  said,  'I  am  still  preaching.' 

"When  pastor  at  Columbus  I  often  went  to  Neligh  as  one 
of  the  trustees  of  Gates  College,  and  heard  a  great  deal 
about  the  country  west  of  Neligh,  and  that  we  were  doing 
nothing  there.  So  when  I  took  my  vacation,  I  went  up  to 
the  country  reputed  to  be  in  the  hands  of  Doc  Middleton 
and  Kidd  Wade's  band  of  horse  thieves.  Leaving  the  team 
at  Atkinson  I  took  the  train  to  Ainsv/orth,  where  I  found 
a  student  who  had  preached  during  the  summer,  and  had 
gathered  a  few  members  ready  to  join  a  church.  The 
pastor  at  Neligh  came  up  for  a  Sunday  and  we  formed  a 


IMOXKliK    KXrKRlliXCES      •  169 

council  and  organized  a  L'oni^rcyational  church.  Monday 
I  went  on  to  X'alcntine,  saw  Inchans.  and  looked  over  the 
prospects  for  work.  I  wrote  to  Xew  York  concernin.2:  the 
needs  of  the  field.  The  next  year  Brother  Uross  was  ap- 
pointed to  take  up  that  work  which  he  so  ably  did.  As  1 
was  returning-  from  Valentine  information  came  to  me  that 
led  me,  when  I  reached  Atkinson,  to  write  back  to  the  stu- 
dent at  Ainsworth  and  tell  him  to  ,i>o  out  on  the  street  and 
talk  Cong;retj,-ational  church  building-  next  morning-,  and 
that  1  could  g-et  $400  from  Xcw  York  to  help  erect  the 
i-iieeting-honse.  This  he  did.  The  result  was  that  1  re- 
ceived a  letter  at  Columbus,  asking  me  to  come  up  and 
advise  them  how  to  proceed.  So  at  a  personal  expense  of 
S35  to  $40  I  went  up  and  drew  plan  of  building,  wrote  out 
specifications  for  workinen,  and  started  the  deacon  out  with 
subscription  paper.  They  w^ent  on  and  built  the  church, 
and  a  vear  later  were  able  to  pay  $400  toward  the  support 
of  a  pastor. 

"I  remember  some  of  cwr  early  financial  struggles.  At 
one  ti;-ne  I  could  not  buy  a  postage  stam]),  but  going  to  the 
post-office  I  took  out  a  letter  containing  $3  which  the  writer 
said  I  should  use.  Then  1  had  to  go  out  eight  miles  to 
marrv  a  couple  Xew^  Year's  day.  It  was  grasshopper  time, 
and  the  man  gave  me  $20  for  a  fee,  the  largest  I  ever  re- 
ceived anywhere,  and  I  never  wanted  it  worse,  as  I  had  to 
feed  my  horse  on  stra-\\-,  the  rains  having  washed  away  my 
hay,  some  thirty  tons.  In  some  way  the  Lord  ])rovided  for 
our  wants.'' 

REV.   A.   E.   RICKER 

Rev.  A.  E.  Ricker  is  one  of  our  younger  men  in  the  prin-ie 
of  strong  i-nanhood,  and  the  pastor  of  the  Congregational 
church  at  Aurora.  The  following  pages  from  his  pen  are 
like  the  fresh  breezes  from  the  northwest — full  of  life : 


170  CONGREGATIONAL   NEBRASKA 

"It  was  in  the  year  1886  that  I  was  directed  to  go  to 
Crawford  and  begin  work  under  the  auspices  of  the  Con- 
gregational Home  IMissionary  Society.  I  was  young  and 
inexperienced,  although  the  summer  before,  as  a  seminary 
student,  I  had  preached  the  first  sermon  and  organized  the 
first  Sunday  school  in  Julesburg,  Colorado. 

"Taking  the  train  at  Chicago  for  Sidney,  Nebraska, 
where  I  paid  a  short  visit  to  my  parents,  I  started  by  stage 
from  Sidney  to  Ft.  Robinson,  125  miles  north.  I  think  I 
shall  never  forget  that  ride.  The  stage  was  not  a  stage, 
but  a  stiff  buckboard,  with  two  seats,  capable  of  carrying 
three  passengers  besides  the  driver.  The  company  made 
two  or  three  trips  a  Vv^eek,  and  the  principal  business  was 
the  carrying  of  the  United  States  mail. 

"It  was  about  9  :oo  o'clock  of  a  bright,  cool  morning  in 
early  May  that  our  buckboard  started  for  the  long  trip.  It 
was  twenty-four  hours  later  when  we  rode  down  into  the 
White  river  bottom,  and  finally  stopped  at  the  station  near 
Ft.  Robinson  and  Crawford.  And  that  twenty-four  hours ! 
The  horses  and  drivers  were  changed  at  intervals  during 
the  journey,  but  the  passengers  sat  through  steadily  from 
first  to  last.  Didn't  they  stop?  Yes,  to  feed  the  horses  and 
get  meals  at  the  stage  stations,  perhaps  pauses  of  anTioiu", 
and  then  on  we  went  another  weary  expanse  of  prairie  and 
along  the  interminable  road.  But  such  meals  as  those  were 
at  the  stage  stations !  The  best  thing  about  them  was  the 
price,  fifty  cents — quite  metropolitan ;  but  the  meals ! 

"We  came  into  one  station  just  as  the  gray  streaks  of 
morning  struggled  feebly  up  the  eastern  horizon.  The 
family — it  was  the  home  of  our  driver — were  just  begin- 
ning to  stir.  It  was  a  lone  log  house,  meanly  built,  with 
various  sheds  and  pens  round  about.  On  one  side  the  tim- 
bers that  supported  the  roof  projected  foiu"  or  five  feet  from 
the  eaves,  and  were  covered  with  brush  and  earth,  as  was 


Rev.  S.  I.  Haiifonl 
Rev.  A.  E.  Ricker 


,,         T   ,      T^  Kev.  W.  J.  Turner 

Rev.  John  Doane       ^^^^_  ^_  Cressnian 


172  CONGREGATIONAl,   NEBRASKA 

the  whole  roof.  This  formed  a  sort  of  piazza.  A  stove- 
pipe had  been  run  up  through  this  extension  of  the  roof, 
and  the  cookstove  was  out  on  this  veranda.  The  process 
of  getting  breakfast  was  going  forward.  We  were  both 
cokl  and  hungry,  and  it  was  natural  for  the  travelers  to 
gather  about  the  stove  and  watch  the  preparations  for  our 
regalement. 

"T  think  the  chicken  house  must  have  been  near,  not  sim- 
ply because  chickens  were  present,  but  because  they  dis- 
played such  fearless  familiarity  Avith  the  other  members  of 
the  familv,  and  such  interest  in  what  was  going  on.  The 
cook  and  hostess  was  busy  frying  potatoes  on  the  stove,  for 
one  item  in  our  bill  of  fare.  She  was  also  setting  the  table 
in  a  room  in  the  house.  When  she  bestowed  her  attention 
on  the  potatoes  she  turned  them  with  a  knife.  When  she 
went  into  the  house  to  the  table,  she  laid  the  knife  on  a  low 
bench,  and  the  chickens  jumped  up  on  the  bench,  walked 
over  the  knife,  and  picked  off  bits  of  potatoes  that  adhered 
to  its  blade.  The  hostess  came  out,  shooed  the  chickens 
off,  picked  up  the  knife  they  had  walked  around  on,  and 
turned  over  the  potatoes  with  it  some  more.  Now  we  like 
our  potatoes  turned  and  fried  on  both  sides,  but  we  did  not 
feel  much  like  eating  these  potatoes. 

"When  I  sat  at  the  table  in  a  dark  room  dimly  lighted 
with  one  small,  dirty,  smoky  chimneyed  kerosene  lamp,  I 
wondered  what  articles  of  food  would  be  most  likely  to 
have  least  dirt  in  them.  I  was  desperately  hungry.  1  had 
to  eat  something.  I  thought  there  was  as  little  risk  about 
the  coffee  as  anything — maybe  any  unnecessary  ingredients 
would  settle  to  the  bottom  of  the  cup.  I  drank  about  half 
of  my  coffee  as  quickly  as  possible,  and  then  concluded  I 
had  made  one  mistake  anyway.  I  thought  it  would  be  run- 
ning great  chances  trying  bread — it  looked  of  a  tremen- 
dously questionable  color.     I  knew  T  did  not  want  any  of 


PIOXRKR    F.XrKRlKXCES  1 73 

those  potatoes.  I  selected  a  little  that  seemed  to  promise 
as  small  amount  of  risk  as  anvthini;"  and  swallowed  a  few 
Lmn.'iished  mouthfuls.  After  paying-  my  fift;.'  cents  1 
thouiiht  to  myself  that  i  had  never  yet  paid  more  money 
for  less  value  received  in  my  life's  previous  experiences. 

"The  morninp;-  was  crisp  and  cold  as  we  rode  down  from 
the  lal:>le-land  into  the  valley  of  the  White  river.  At  one 
point  we  passed  a  freighters'  camj).  The  horses  were  pick- 
eted near  at  hand  ;  th.e  wagon  with  its  canvas  top  stood  be- 
side tb.e  road,  and  under  it,  wrapped  in  th.eir  blankets,  the 
freighters  were  still  aslee]). 

"The  scene  as  we  wound  down  into  the  valley  was  indeed 
beautiful  in  the  early  morning  light.  Beneath  us  the  deep 
v/inding  valley,  and  beyond  the  strange  rugged  bluffs,  just 
north  of  Ft.  Robinson,  their  bare  rocks  like  the  turrets  of 
some  vast  castles,  lifting  themselves  against  the  sky,  while 
at  their  base  grew  the  dark  green  pines.  Away  off  to  the 
right — that  is,  the  east — extends  the  uneven  line  of  the  Pine 
Ridge  with  'Crow  Butte"  standing  out.  prominent,  against 
the  morning  sky  like  a  giant  captain  of  a  g'ant  host. 

"Presently  the  driver  turned  the  heads  of  his  horses  into 
a  }-ard  in  v.diich  was  a  long,  low  log  house,  with  sheds  for 
horses.  A  woman  stood  in  the  door.  Children  and  dogs 
and  domestic  animals  of  various  orders  uttered  for  us  each 
his  peculiar  greeting.  Here  our  horses  stopped,  and  our 
journey  was  ended,  so  far  as  staging  was  concerned. 

"T  could  see  nothing  but  open  and  apparently  uninhabited 
])rairie.  and  \  looked  around  with  some  interest,  not  to  say 
foreboding,  for  the  town  in  which  my  missionary  labors 
were  to  be.  After  scanning-  the  landscape  with  some  care 
in  silence  T  asked  the  driver,  AVhere  is  Ft.  Robinson?' 
Pointing  off  across  the  valley  and  toward  the  buttes,  he 
said,  'Just  over  th'  hill  an'  th'  trees  a  little  ways ;  yer  can't 
see  it  f'm  here.'    I  gained  a  little  encouragement  and  asked. 


PIONEER    EXPERIENCES  175 

'Where  is  Crawford?'  'Wall  th'  aint  much  Crawford  now. 
T's  goin'  to  be  over  thar.  Yer  ken  go  out  t'  thct  ridge 
thar  an'  see  all  ther  is.' 

"I  went  as  directed.  I  could  see  a  small,  clear  stream 
winding  along  under  cottonwood  trees  and  brush.  I  could 
see  a  line  of  embankment,  evidently  a  partial  grade  for  a 
railroad,  and  where  the  grade  approached  the  stream  a  pile- 
driver  was  sending  down  the  heavy  posts  for  a  bridge. 
That  was  a  sign  of  coming  life,  but  it  wasn't  a  town.  Over 
a  little  farther  I  could  see  a  tent,,  and  beside  it  a  few  pieces 
of  limber  sticking  up  in  the  air.  Evidently  some  one  had 
begun  a  building  of  some  sort.  That  was  all  I  could  see. 
That  was  all  there  was  to  see.  That  tent  contained  the 
first  stock  of  goods  that  was  ever  brought  upon  the  site  of 
the  present  city  of  Crawford,  and  those  pieces  of  timber 
were  the  posts  of  the  first  frame  building — a  hardware 
store — erected  in  the  town.  That  was  Crawford  as  I  saw 
it  first  in  May,  1886. 

*'For  a  few  days  I  was  kindly  entertained  in  the  home 
of  an  officer  at  Ft.  Robinson,  and  then  I  met  Mr.  Bross  and 
a  company  of  three  of  my  fellow'  students  from  the  semi- 
nary. They  were  traveling  with  a  wagon,  in  real  emigrant 
style,  on  their  way  to  points  still  farther  up  the  line  of  the 
projected  railroad.  After  a  pleasant  dinner  about  the  camp- 
fire  with  them,  and  consultation  with  the  General  Mission- 
ary, which  gave  me  a  notion  of  what  he  wanted  me  to  do, 
I  bade  my  companions  farewell  and  saw  them  move  out  of 
sight  on  the  trail  to  Wyoming.  Then  I  turned  to  the  task 
before  me. 

"The  town  of  Crawford  had  not  come  yet.  and  there  was 
nothing  to  do  at  that  point.  But  down  the  valley  twelve 
miles  farther  was  a  little  hamlet  called  then  Earth  Lodge. 
There  my  work  was  to  begin.  That  same  afternoon  the 
ambulance,  at  the  generous  command  of  the  oflticer  who  was 


176  CONGREGATIONAL   NEBRASKA 

my  host,  took  nie  to  the  settler's  cabin  at  the  foot  of  Crow 
Butte,  to  which  Mr.  Bross  had  directed  me.  There  I  found 
a  Christian  brother  and  a  Christian  home,  housed  in  a  log 
cabin.  That  evening  was  pleasantly  spent  in  conversation, 
in  singing  gospel  hymns,  for  this  brother  was  a  singer,  and 
after  the  season  of  worship  came  rest  and  refreshing 
slumber. 

"And  there  was  sort  of  a  weird,  poetic  charm  about  it. 
The  slight  shelter  of  that  frail  cabin,  on  the  utmost  rim  of 
the  regions  inhabited  by  man,  the  mighty  and  desolate 
plains  everywhere,  and  the  great  buttes,  shadowed  with 
pines,  lifting  swarthy  shoulders  into  the  night  close  at  hand, 
and  the  silence  of  the  great  plains  that  stretched  darkly 
beneath  the  starry  heavens — all  these  spoke  a  mystic  lan- 
guage, oppressive,  yet  enchanting,  saddening,  yet  delight- 
ful. But  the  stars  looked  through  the  cabin  window  from 
their  mighty  heights  and  thoughts  of  home  and  thoughts 
of  God  sang  a  glorious  lullaby. 

"Early  the  following  morning  the  brother  took  me  to  the 
corner  of  his  farm  and  pointed  out  the  location  of  Earth 
Lodge,  and  directed  the  way  to  it.  Taking  my  grip  from 
his  hand,  I  trudged  along  afoot  and  finally  found  my  way 
to  Earth  Lodge.  Ten  or  a  dozen  small  houses  huddled  to- 
gether on  the  banks  of  the  White  river  constituted  the 
hamlet. 

"Then  I  sent  out  the  announcement  of  preaching  for  the 
next  Sabbath,  and  began  the  work  of  getting  acquainted 
with  the  people.  I  found  Christian  men  and  women, 
started^  a  Sunday  school,  and  kept  up  a  preaching  service 
during  the  summer.  One  thing  may  be  of  interest,  and 
that  is  the  straits  to  which  I  was  put  to  find  a  place  to 
study  and  prejDare  my  sermons  for  Sunday.  There  was  a 
'hotel.'  It  consisted  of  three  rooms  and  a  shed  kitchen. 
Tliere  was  no  room  in  which  I  could  be  b}^  myself  day 
times.    A  few  hundred  yards  away  ran  'Ash  creek/  a  small 


nOXF.ER    I'.XPF.RIENCES  177 

Stream  w  hose  banks  were  ([uite  steep,  and  in  the  creek  bot- 
tom were  some  trees.  Under  one  of  them  was  a  lo^;;.  quite 
well  shaded  b\-  foliaj^v.  That  shad\-  nook  I  appropriated 
t\)r  a  stud\'.  and  (hirinj;-  the  most  of  that  summer  wliat 
reading-  I  could  do  and  the  work  of  preparing;  my  Sabbath 
sermons  were  done  almost  wholly  in  that  outdoor  study. 
My  Bible  and  the  commentary  of  nature  were  all  the  helps 
I  had. 

"Sabbath  services  at  first  were  held  in  an  empty  store- 
room, in  one  corner  of  \\  hich  was  a  land  office,  and  boards 
with  such  supports  as  could  lie  a])propriated  served  as  pews. 
Later  in  the  summer,  after  the  railroad  came  through,  the 
town  was  removed  to  a  site  near  the  station  and  the  name 
changed  to  Whitnex".  A  'tabernacle'  boarded  u])  to  the 
eaves,  the  roof  covered  with  canvas,  served  the  purposes 
of  a  sanctuar}-.  The  work  at  Whitney  was  ke])t  up  during 
that  summer,  l)ut  the  town  failed  to  develop.  Congregation- 
ally  speaking. 

"Within  about  two  weeks  of  the  beginning  of  my  work 
at  Earth  Lodge,  nee  Dawes  City,  nee  Whitney,  a  rumor 
came  that  people  were  coming  into  Crawford.  Promptly 
securing  a  pony,  I  rode  down  to  investigate.  Lnagine  my 
surprise  when  I  came  in  sight  of  the  place  where  I  had 
seen,  a  fev;  days  before,  a  solitary  tent  and  a  part  of  a 
frame  building,  and  beheld  a  village  of  at  least  two  hundred 
inhabitants.  The  railroad  graders  were  at  work  in  the 
immediate  vicinity  of  the  town  and  things  were  'booming.' 
There  were  two  or  three  frame  business  houses  of  the  fron- 
tier sort— light  frame,  rough  boards,  battened  over  cracks, 
no  paint,  no  plaster,  no  finish, — the  rest  of  the  town  con- 
sisted of  tents,  some  of  them  stretched  over  a  frame  of  two 
by  fours,  some  with  walls  of  wood  ;  in  fact  every  sort  of  a 
contrivance  to  make  a  temporar\'  shelter  for  goods  or 
workmen. 
12 


J  78  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

"It  was  a  strange  looking  town.  It  was  a  motley  col- 
lection of  people.  It  was  humanity  in  epitome.  Business 
men,  American  and  Jew ;  workmen,  mostly  carpenters, 
blacksmiths,  and  day  laborers ;  frontiersmen  of  every  stripe, 
hunters,  freighters,  cattlemen,  land  agents,  railroad  men 
of  the  various  'gangs' ;  negro  soldiers  of  Ft.  Robinson  close 
at  hand,  and  the  floating  population  that  infests-  a  new  town, 
toughs,  gamblers,  saloonkeepers,  lewd  women,  and  various 
other  grades  and  sorts  of  degenerate  humanity. 

"One  thing  I  soon  noticed.  There  were  no  hotels  and 
no  residence  houses.  Every  building  was  some  sort  of  a 
business  house,  or  shop,  or  office.  Men,  and.  their  families 
if  they  had  any,  lived  in  their  places  of  business.  Restau- 
rants there  were,  but  no  rooms  for  lodging.  Every  man 
was  supposed  to  have  his  own  roll  of  blankets  and  find  a 
place  to  sjjread  them  under  his  own  or  some  one  else's 
canvas.  I  soon  discovered  my  former  friend  with  whom  I 
had  lodged  at  Crow  Butte  on  my  way  to  Earth  Lodge  and 
covenanted  with  him  for  six  feet  of  space  on  the  floor  of 
his  wagon  shop.  My  first  step  was  to  find  a  place  in  which 
Sabbath  services  could  be  held.  After  some  inquiry,  I 
learned  of  a  large  tent  that  was  only  partially  occupied  as 
a  storeroom  for  a  feed  store,  and  from  the  owner  I  gained 
permission  to  use  it  for  a  preaching  place.  Then  the  an- 
nouncement was  given  out,  and  on  the  following  Sabbath 
I  preached  the  first  sermon  in  Crawford.  The  tent  was 
well  filled.  In  one  corner  of  it  a  young  man  had  placed  a 
barber's  chair  and  was  plying  the  tonsorial  art  Sabbath 
day.  It  was  not  until  after  the  service  had  proceeded  for 
some  time  that  he  ceased  work. 

"The  audience  consisted  of  representatives  of  nearly  all 
the  classes  I  have  enumerated  above  as  dwellers  in  the  vil- 
lage, and  were  seated  somewhat  irregularly  on  boards  and 
blocks ;  some  on  bran  and  meal  sacks  of  various  heights, 


\ 


PIONEER   EXPERIENCES  I  79 

and  many  stood.  But  all  were  respectful  and  listened  to 
the  young  and  inexperienced  missionary  less  critically,  I 
am  quite  sure,  than  some  much  more  highly  favored  au- 
diences would  have  done.  I  remember  distinctly  the  text. 
Zech.  8:16-17.  'These  are  the  things  that  ye  shall  do;  speak 
ye  every  man  the  truth  with  his  neighbor;  execute  the  judg- 
ments of  truth  and  peace  in  your  gates :  And  let  none  of 
you  imagine  evil  in  your  hearts  against  your  neighbor ;  and 
love  no  false  oath,  for  all  these  are  things  that  I  hate,  saith 
the  Lord.'  Whatever  may  have  been  the  tenor  of  the  ser- 
mon, such  a  text  certainly  contained  wholesome  sentiment 
for  such  an  audience  and  such  a  time. 

"At  the  close  of  the  sermon  the  question  of  Sunday 
school  was  presented.  The  blacksmith  moved  that  we  have 
a  Sunday  school  'to-day,'  and  the  motion  having  carried, 
the  audience  resolved  itself  into  classes,  disposing  itself 
among  the  planks  and  grain  sacks  to  the  best  advantage 
possible,  and  an  hour  was  spent  in  the  study  of  the  Sabbath 
school  lesson. 

"Preaching  services  were  maintained  from  that  day  dur- 
ing the  whole  summer. 

"In  the  earlier  portion  of  my  stay  there  we  never  knew 
one  Sunday  where  the  service  would  be  held  the  next. 
Empty  rooms  in  partially  completed  buildings  were  the 
favorite  refuge,  but  the  dining  room  of  a  hotel — when  one 
was  built — the  waiting  room  of  the  depot  are  among  the 
places  which  I  remember  served  our  purpose.  Then  I  se- 
cured some  posts  and  boards,  set  the  posts  in  the  ground, 
nailed  the  IxDards  on,  put  up  the  frame  of  a  roof,  took  some 
heavy  ducking  to  the  home  of  a  lady  and  stitched  the  seams 
myself  on  her  sewing  machine,  put  this  over  the  roof;  my 
friend  the  wagon-maker  assisted  in  making  some  benches, 
and  we  had  a  place  to  worship  of  our  own.  To  be  sure,  the 
floor  was  mother  earth,  and   our  carpet  the  velvet  grass, 


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PIONEER   EXPERIENCES 


i8 


i)ul  in;inv  worshipers  among-  those  whom  the  Father  seek- 
eth  to  worship  Him  have  hfted  spiritual  son^-  and  fervent 
praver  to  the  (/iod  and  l-"athcr  of  us  all  in  i)laces  less  at- 
tractive and  comfiMiable. 

"Amono-  the  farmers  who  had  settled  in  the  country 
round  about,  and  among-  the  merchants,  shopkeepers,  and 
workmen  1  found  C'lirislian  men,  and  also  Christian  women. 
A  little  band  of  these  gathered  each  Sabbath,  participated 
in  the  worship,  assisted  in  the  Sabbath  school,  and  in  a 
nndtilude  of  wavs  held  up  the  hands  of  the  young  mis- 
sionarv.  Our  superintendent,  a  young  man  from  the  east- 
ern part  of  Nebraska,  would  have  done  credit  to  any  Sun- 
dav  school,  and  our  teachers  did  faithful  work. 

"At  the  close  of  the  sunnner  a  dozen  names  had  been 
g-athered   for  membership   in  the  church  to  be  organized, 
and   a   provisional   organization   was   effected,   and  at  that 
service  one  woman  who  united  on  confession  was  baptized. 
"So  far  as  my  connection  with  this  Crawford  work  is 
concerned,  it  remains  only  to  add  some  details,  and  some 
incidents  that  may  be  of  interest  to  the   friends  of  home 
missions.      After   the   work   was    started   at  both   Whitney 
(Earth  Lodge)  and  Crawford  my  plan  was  to  preach  every 
Sunday  in  each  place.     After  the  morning  service  at  Whit- 
ney, T  put  my  Bible  and  gospel  songs  in  a  sack,  and  tied 
them  on  the  back  of  m\-  saddle   and   rode  to   Crawford — 
twelve  miles.     There  I  preached  in  the  afternoon.     At  first 
T  tried  to  take  a  liast\-  dinner  before  starting  for  my  second 
a])pointment,  but  I  found  that  the  motion  of  the  horse  made 
it  impossible  for  me  to  get  to  Crawford  ivifh   my  dinner. 
So,  of  necessity,  I  had  to  postpone  my  Sunday  meal  until 
after  the  afternoon  service. 

"Among  the  most  blessed  experiences  of  that  summer's 
work  were  mv  rides  back  from  Craw^ford  to  Whitney,  on 
Sabbath  evenings,  after  the  messages  of  the  day  had  been 


1 82  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

delivered  and  its  work  done.  Nebraska,  especially  in  its 
western  portions,  is  a  land  of  beautiful  evenings.  As  my 
horse  sauntered  leisurely  homeward,  the  shadows  would  fall 
softly  on  the  rolling  prairie,  the  western  heavens  would  be 
painted  on  cloud  and  glowing  blue  in  colors  delicate,  bril- 
liant, glorious,  as  with  pencils  of  light  in  the  hand  of  God. 
Through  skies  as  clear  as  those  of  Italy  or  Syria  the  stars 
would  look  down,  and  then,  over  the  glorious  pine-fringed 
outlines  of  the  eastern  hills,  would  come  forth  the  silver 
moon,  shedding  her  soft  indescribable  glory  over  a  land- 
scape that  seemed  to  tremble  for  joy  in  the  mellow  light. 
And  how  could  such  a  symphony  fail  to  impart  itself  to  the 
heart  of  man?  But  through  the  waning  moonlight  and 
above  the  voices  of  nature  there  came  oft  to  the  missionary 
a  higher  communication.  The  consciousness  of  the  Father's 
presence,  the  approval  of  the  Savior  whose  message  had 
that  day  been  delivered,  however  weakly,  the  deep  gratitude 
to  Him  who  had  guided  and  supported  the  weakest  of  His 
servants  in  situations  where  the  strongest  would  have  been 
as  tow  to  the  fire  without  His  grace,  the  deep  sweet  delight 
of  fellowship  with  God  in  that  lonely  road : — these  and  a 
myriad  emotions  no  pen  can  write  down  made  that  ride 
of  a  solitary  horseman  a  pleasant  and  a  blessed  part  of  his 
life's  experiences. 

"Another  little  incident  of  delightful  memory  is  con- 
nected with  the  process  of  securing  the  little  tabernacle  at 
Crawford.  To  get  the  lumber  it  became  necessary  to  make 
a  trip  to  a  sawmill.  This  was  located  well  up  among  the 
hills  east  of  Crawford,  toward  the  head  of  a  huge  gully,  or 
small  canyon,  that  made  down  from  the  'Pine  Ridge'  into 
the  plain  below.  After  a  brisk  horseback  ride  in  the  crisp 
.-<norning  air,  I  came  to  the  edge  of  the  canyon,  the  sides  of 
vvhich  were  timbered  to  the  bottom,  which  was  perhaps  150 
feet  below.     The  road  or  trail  wound  around  among  the 


PIONEER  EXPERIENCES  1 83 

pines,  and  toward  the  bottom  of  the  glen  a  perfect  mass  of 
roses  in  full  bloom,  in  beautiful  contrast  with  the  somber 
evergreen,  made  a  picture  of  surpassing  loveliness,  and 
leaded  the  air  with  fragrance.  Xo  one  knows  how  lovely 
a  diversified  landscape  with  forests  is  save  him  who  has 
lived  until  his  eyes  have  become  weary  of  it  upon  an  un- 
timbercd  prairie,  and  then  suddenly  come  upon  a  royal  view 
oi  limber. 

"I  have  spoken  of  the  difticulty  of  securing  lodging  dur- 
ing those  first  weeks  in  Crawford.  A  striking  experience 
:s  associated  in  my  mind  with  that  fact.  Of  course  in  that 
da}-  the  gambling  profession  was  liberally  represented.  It 
was  no  uncommon  thing  to  see  a  man  walk  out  of  a  saloon, 
set  up  a  little  three-legged  stand  in  the  middle  of  the  main 
street,  cr}-  out,  'Walk  up  here,  gentlemen,  walk  up,  bet  your 
money  and  win  your  pile.  This  way,  fellers,  this  way,' 
and  go  forv.ard  with  his  gambling  business  as  unconcern- 
edly,as  though  he  were  selling  fruit  or  notions.  One  of  the 
favorite  devices  of  this  gentry  was  the  'ball  and  shell'  trick. 
With  his  little  stand,  or  some  board  or  counter  before  him, 
tlie  gambler  produced  the  half  of  a  shell,  as  of  a  lar^e  wal- 
nut, and  three  balls,  each  about  the  size  of  a  pea.  These  he 
would  appear  to  put  under  the  shell,  and  manipulating  them 
with  great  skill,  induce  some  one  to  bet  that  one  or  more 
of  the  balls  were  under  the  shell,  or  were  not.  when  of 
course  the  victim  Vv'as  taken  in,  or  his  money  was,  by  the 
professional. 

"For  some  days  we  had  noticed  one  of  these  men  about 
town  who  appeared  to  be  of  rather  quiet  disposition  for  one 
of  his  class.  In  fact.  I  am  quite  sure  that  he  was  in  the 
audience  the  first  time  that  I  preached  in  Crawford,  and 
of  course  he  knevv'  who  I  was.  One  day  he  spoke  to  rne : 
'Where  are  you  going  to  sleep  to-night?'  T  said,  'Oh,  I 
don't  know,  I  shall  have  to  find  a  chance  to  turn  in  some- 


PIONEER   EXrERIEXCF.S  1 85 

where."  'Well,  say,  come  and  sleep  with  me,  I've  p^ot  a 
good  tent,  all  1)\-  myself,  and  a  comfortable  bed  :  the  tent  is 
in  a  c[niet  place,  too."  1  was  a  little  snrprised.  1  knew  he 
was  a  gambler  and  he  knew  1  was  a  jjreacher.  I  knew  he 
had  no  thought  of  making  money  from  me.  At  any  rate, 
whatever  his  thought  v/as,  1  was  perfect!}-  safe  on  that 
score.  He  couldn't  enrich  himself  through  me.  1  gave 
him  an  indecisive  answer,  thanking  him  for  his  offer.  Again 
before  night  he  repeated  the  invitation,  and  the  outcome 
\\as  that  when  night  came  on,  I  went  with  him  to  his  tent 
and  slept  with  him. 

"It  was  pitched  on  a  grassy  plot  about  forty  'feet  to  the 
rear  of  a  large  saloon  tent.  In  that  saloon,  with  nothing 
but  canvas  intervening,  I  could  hear  the  conversation  and 
the  revelry  wlienever  I  was  awake  through  the  night.  We 
had  a  comfortable  bed  in  one  corner  and  he  also  had  an 
extensive  collection  of  various  devices  which  he  used  in 
his  vocation  as  a  gambler.  He  became  quite  confidential, 
showed  me  the  contrivances,  and  explained,  sparingly,  how 
the  various  tricks  were  worked.  When  we  were  talking 
about  tiie  'ball  and  shell'  trick.  I  asked  the  question,  'Where 
is  the  ball  when  you  get  people  to  bet  it  is  under  the  shell  ?' 
'In  my  pocket,'  he  ans\vered.  After  I  had  listened  to  his 
descriptions  for  some  time,  1  took  u])  my  Bible,  and  asked 
him  if  he  would  Hsten  to  a  chapter  from  the  Rook.  'Oh, 
)  es,  I'll  listen,  you  can  read  if  you  want  to ;  I  ain't  got 
nothin'  agin  the  Bible.'  So  I  know  that  he  heard  one  chap- 
ter from  the  Gospel  of  the  divine  Lord,  whether  he  ever 
heard  one  again  or  not.  \\'hen  the  evening  was  growing- 
late,  perhaps  ten  or  ten  thirt\  he  rose  and  said  to  me : 
'Xow,  you  can  turn  in  whenever  you  want  to.  There's  the 
bed  'n"  it's  all  right.  I'm  goin'  out  to  see  if  I  can  make 
somethin'.'  And  he  vanished  into  the  night.  And  I  lav 
down  to  sleep,  and  the  strangeness  of  the  situation  came 


1 86  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

upon  me.  I  in  the  tent  of  a  frontier  desperado  and  gam- 
bler, and  he  gone  out  to  'make  somethin' !' 

"I  heard  the  chink  of  glasses,  the  click  of  'chips,'  the 
boisterous  talk  and  laughter  in  the  saloon  tent,  and  won- 
dered just  where  my  friend  and  bunkmate  was,  and  just 
what  were  his  transactions.  But  presently  I  fell  asleep, 
and  did  not  waken  when  he  came  to  bed.  Some  time  dur- 
ing the  night  I  was  awakened  by  the  sound  of  voices.  My 
gambler  friend  was  by  my  side  in  the  bed.  Some  other 
man  was  in  the  tent  and  was  pleading  with  my  bedfellow 
in  husky,  excited  half-whispers.  The  intruder  was  the  first 
to  speak:  'Say,  pard,  let  me  take  yer  pop,  jest  for  a  few 
minutes.'  The  voice  at  my  side  answered:  'No,  I  can't  let 
yer  have  it.'  'O  say,  pard,  I  don't  want  it  but  jest  a  little 
while:  let  me  take  it,  won't  yer?'  'No.'  More  decidedly, 
'I  won't  let  it  go.'  'O  come  now,  I've  got  t'  have  a  pop. 
I'll  bring  it  back  to  you  in  jest  a  fe^v  minutes.  I'll  do  any- 
thing fer  ye  on  earth  if  ye'll  jest  let  me  have  yer  pop  a  few 
minutes.'  But  my  gambler  companion  steadily  refused  to 
lend  his  'pop'  (revolver).  The  other  kept  up  his  excited 
pleading  for  some  time,  using  every  persuasion,  but  to  no 
avail. 

"Dining  the  progress  of  the  conflab  I  felt  something 
under  the  blankets  touch  me,  and  I  knew  that  m  his  de- 
termination not  to  let  this  stranger,  whoever  he  might  be, 
get  possession  of  his  gun,  he  had  shoved  it  back  into  the 
bed  between  us.  Penally  the  intruder  became  convinced 
that  his  request  was  not  going  to  be  granted  and  went 
away.  As  he  disappeared  into  the  night,  the  gambler  said : 
'You  bet,  I  ain't  goin'  to  give  up  my  gmi.  for  anvbody ;  ye 
don't  ketch  me  without  my  gun.'  A  pause.  Then :  'I 
wonder  if  he  thought  I'd  let  him  take  my  gun  ?  Not  much. 
I've  got  too  many  enemies  in  this  country.  There's  one 
feller,  if  we  ever  meet  agen  it's  jest  who  can  shoot  first. 


PIONEER   EXPERIENCES 


187 


that's  all.  'X'  lie's  look'n  f  me,  too.'  A  pause.  'That's 
why  I  wanted  you  to  stay  with  me.  That  feller  may  come 
into  this  town."  That  was  interestin"-.  I  suppose  he 
thought  that  if  there  were  tzco  men  in  his  tent,  and  his 
enem\-  should  put  in  an  ap])earance,  there  would  be  some 
chance  that  he  would  not  be  hit!  We  talked  in  this  refresh- 
ing- way  for  some  time.  I  asked:  'Did  you  see  that  fellow 
before  he  spoke  to  you?'  'You  bet,  I  heard  him  before  he 
jj^ot  to  the  tent,  and  I  had  my  gun  right  on  (pointed  at)  his 


WESTERN     NEP.RASKA    OF    TO-DAV     UNDER     IRRIGATION 


heart.'  Then  as  we  lay  down  to  sleep  again,  I  did  some 
thinking.  What  a  life  this  man  was  leading!  To  be  every 
moment  on  guard  for  his  life,  night  and  day.  That  man 
had  approached  our  tent  over  the  soft  grass  with  well-nigh 
noiseless  footfall  in  the  dead  of  night.  He  might  easily 
enough  have  surprised  me,  for  I  did  not  hear  him  till  his 
voice  awoke  me.  But  this  gambler  was  living  under  such 
a  tension  of  watchfulness  and  dread  that  he  had  been 
aroused  and  was  fully  prepared  for  self-defense  before  that 


l88  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

stranger  had  reached  the  tent.  'Truly/  I  said,  'the  way  of 
the  transgressor  is  hard;  No  further  interruptions  dis- 
turbed our  shinibers,  but  I  presume  that  for  many  a  day  I 
shall  not  forget  the  night  when  I  enjoyed  the  hospitality 
of  a  border  gambler." 

In  this  and  the  preceding  chapter  we  get  various  glimpses 
of  pioneer  work,  of  the-  characteristics  of  different  men  who 
have  had  no  small  part  in  the  development  of  Congrega- 
tional Nebraska.  We  are  wont  to  think  of  pioneer  work 
as  something  which  occurred  long  ago.  But  here  we  find 
it  very  recent.  .Some  of  it  is  even  now,  and  the  work  goes 
on.  There  is  some  romance  as  well  as  hardship  in  home 
missionary  work. 

The  following  story  of  grasshopper  relief  was  prepared 
by  Rev.  J.  E.  Storm  who  knew  the  facts,  and  is  related  to 
show  how  Congregationalists  worked  in  the  interests  of  the 
people  in  need.  There  was  much  suffering,  hardship,  and 
destitution  on  the  part  of  many.  There  was  no  little  hero- 
ism on  the  part  of  missionaries  and  pastors  who  in  the 
midst  of  great  deprivation  stayed  by  their  posts  and  helped 
bring  relief  to  the  destitute. 

FATHER    EARROVV'.'^    STORY    OF    GRASSHOPPER    RELIEF 

"While  Polk  county  was  suffering  from  the  grasshopper 
dcA^astation  of  '74,  Rev.'  Simon  Barrows  was  county  super- 
intendent of  public  instruction  in  connection  with  his  pastor- 
ate at  Osceola.  On  his  rounds  of  duty  he  made  note  of  the 
most  pressing  needs  of  the  settlers — so  many  pairs  of  shoes, 
so  many  undergarments,  trousers,  socks,  stockings,  cotton 
and  woolen  cloth,  etc.,  etc.  This  condition  he  set  forth  in 
detail  in  a  letter  to  a  ministerial  friend  in  Boston  with  the 
comment,  'This  represents  one-quarter  of  Polk  county ;  if 
you  can  multiply  this  by  four  you  will  know  our  need.' 


PIONEER    EXPERIENCES  189 

"The  friend  took  tlie  letter  to  Hon.  Alpheus  S.  Hardy,  one 
of  Boston's  best  business  men.  Pfardy  read  it  through  and 
said,  'That  is  business ;  now  we  know  what  to  do.'  He  had 
a  larue  number  of  copies  of  the  letter  struck  off,  and  set  on 
fire  the  pulpits  of  the  eit\-  the  followini;'  Sunday  morninj;-. 
People  saw  the  need  and  gave  heartily  and  liberally.  Boot 
and  shoe  firms  gave  whole  boxes  of  new  goods,  dry  goods 
merchants  gave  bv  the  bolt,  money  ])nure(l  in  freelv  to  jnir- 
chase  with,  so  that  within  a  few  days  a  whole  carload  was 
ready  to  hurry  west.  The  freight  was  prepaid  through  to 
Columbus,  Xel)raska,  the  whole  cargo  being  shipped  direct 
to  Rev.  Simon  Barrows.  Some  little  time  after  he  had  re- 
ceived word  from  Boston  of  the  shipment  being  on  the  road 
and  all  freight  prepaid,  iie  received  word  from  Omaha  to 
send  on  money  to  pay  freight  from  there  to  Columbus.  He 
at  once  telegraphed  to  Mr.  Hardy  and  ^Ir.  Hardy  tele- 
graphed to  Omaha  to  'forward  the  car  immediately.' 
\Mien  the  car  arrived  at  Columbus  teams  were  sent  for  the 
goods,  but  not  enough  teams  to  take  the  whole  at  once. 
The  agent  would  not  open  the  car  unless  they  would  sign 
a  release  of  the  whole  carload.  This  the  men  feared  to  do, 
lest  they  would  never  more  catch  sight  of  that  car  or  its 
contents,  so  they  went  home  without  the  goods.  The  fol- 
lowing day  teams  enough  were  sent  to  empty  the  car,  but 
they  had  to  agree  to  deliver  their  loads  to  the  county  relief 
committee.  Why  the  agent  should  insist  on  such  a  move, 
the  reader  ma}-  guess.  Arriving  at  the  county  seat  the  boxes 
and  bundles  were  deposited  in  the  court  house,  and  a  mes- 
senger sent  to  Father  Barrows  to  see  how  the  wind  blew. 
He  talked  of  the  arrival  of  the  goods,  and  casually  sug- 
gested that  the  committee  might  open  the  boxes.  'Xo,' 
said  Father  Barrows,  'they  would  xwi  do  that.'  'But.'  said 
he.  'suppose  they  should.^'  "The}-  would  not  opep  but  one, 
for  I  would  put  them  where  they  could  not  open  anv  more.' 


igo  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

'Well,  what  can  they  do?'  'Do!  There  is  but  one  thing 
for  them  to  do. — load  up  the  goods  and  send  them  to  me.' 
'They  have  no  right  to  them  at  all,'  'It  was  an  individual 
shipment  to  myself.' 

"The  result  was  that  the  committee  were  called  together, 
and  they  got  Father  Barrows  to  help  them  get  up  a  suitable 
resolution  that  the  goods  belonged  to  him,  and  that  they  had 
no  right  to  them,  and  to  him  they  should,  would,  and  did  go. 

"Then  came  the  task  of  distribution.  For  this  careful 
preparation  had  been  made.  A  large  book  made  of  common 
brown  wrapping  paper  was  used  for  entries.  The  needs  of 
each  family  had  been  itemized  and  listed  therein.  When  the 
boxes  and  bundles  were  opened,  packages  were  made  to  cor- 
respond with  the  entry  against  each  name.  These  were 
labeled  and  stored  away  in  the  attic,  where  a  floor  of  new 
boards  had  been  laid  for  this  emergency.  As  the  recipients 
carne,  everything  was  ready,  the  packages  were  delivered, 
and  receipts  signed  right  in  the  book. 

'"When  all  had  been  served  this  book  was  taken  to  three  of 
the  county  officials,  including  the  county  judge,  and  they 
were  asked  to  look  the  book  through  and  give  such  certifi- 
cate as  they  thought  best.  They  did  as  requested  and  gave 
a  certificate  to  this  efi'ect :  'We  are  satisfied  that  the  goods 
have  been  disposed  of  according  to  the  wish  and  purpose  of 
the  donors.'  This  certificate  Father  Barrows  sent  to  Mr. 
Hardy.  The  reply  came  back  at  once,  'We  are  perfectly 
satisfied;  you  need  give  yourself  no  further  trouble.' 

"If  all  grasshopper  relief  had  been  as  carefully  and  con- 
scientiously handled  much  suffering  would  have  been 
avoided,  there  would  have  been  a  more  equal  distribution, 
and  the  bright  da^'S  that  followed  would  not  have  left  a 
cloud  upon  some  otherwise  fair  names." 


WOMEN  S    WORK    IX    NEBRASKA  igi 


XXI 


WOMEN  S    WORK    IN    N  EUR  ASK  A 

The  writer  counts  himself  fortunate  in  securini^-  from  the 
president  of  the  W.  H.  M.  U.  of  Nebraska,  the  Rev.  Laura 
II.  Wikl.  recently  pastor  Butler  Avenue  Church,  Lincoln, 
the  following-  account  of  the  organized  work  of  the  women 
in  Xcln-aska.  A  woman's  pen  can  best  describe  women's 
work. 

Miss  Wild  writes : 

"The  women  of  Nebraska  have  not  been  slow  to  help. 
In  the  Year  Book  of  1904,  out  of  the  196  church  clerks  re- 
ported 91  are  women,  and  35  of  the  181  Sunday  school  su- 
perintendents. The  ladies'  aid  society  in  almost  all  the 
churches  is  an  indispensable  assistant  to  local  interests, 
financial  and  otherwise,  and  in  the  missionary  work  it  is 
the  women  who  have  kept  things  stirring  outside  the  annual 
Sunday  morning  offering. 

'"The  women's  annual  missionary  meeting  occurs  in  Octo- 
ber, usually  before  the  State  Association  meeting.  One  day 
is  de^'oted  to  the  home  work  and  one  day  to  the  foreign. 
From  forty  to  sixty  delegates  are  present,  not  a  large  at- 
tendance, but  made  up  of  some  of  the  most  consecrated  and 
earnest  women  of  the  state. 

"The  interest  in  foreign  fields  is  centered  about  workers 
who  have  gone  from  our  own  number,  Miss  Wainwright  in 
Ta].an  and  Miss  Stella  Loughridge  (of  Vine  Street  Church, 
Lincoln)  in  western  Turkey.  A  Bible  woman  is  also  su]!- 
ported  in  central  Turkey,  and  the  children  arc  working  for 
an  industrial  school  in  Africa. 


192  CONGREGATIONAL   NEBRASKA 

''The  home  work  is  concentrated  upon  the  missionary 
fields  we  have  within  the  boundaries  of  our  own  state,  mis- 
sionaries in  the  sandhills ;  two  Indian  children  attending  the 
Santee  school,  our  four  academies,  and  the  churches  and 
Sunday  schools  that  are  being  built.  The  money  raised  is 
nearly  equal — $1,700  in  1903  for  foreign  work,  $1,600  for 
the  home. 

"Certain  distinctive  points  in  the  development  of  the  work 
stand  out  clearly.  The  first  gift  from  the  state  to  the 
Woman's  Board  of  the  Interior  was  $5  from  Mrs.  Reuben 
Gaylord  in  1871.  The  first  contribution  to  the  Home  Mis- 
sionary Society  was  from  Nebraska  City  in  1876.  The  first 
contribution  from  a  local  society  was  from  the  Ashland 
'Little  Workers"  in  1874. 

"The  oldest  auxiliary  is  the  one  at  Weeping  Water.  In 
1873  at  the  State  Association  meeting  held  in  Weeping 
Water  the  women  got  together  and  organized  the  Woman's 
Board  of  Missions  for  the  State  of  Nebraska,  its  object  be- 
ing both  foreign  and  home  work.  The  next  year,  that  this 
double  end  might  be  clearly  understood,  the  name  was 
changed  to  the  Ladies'  Association  of  Nebraska  for  Home 
and  Foreign  Missions,  and  Mrs.  Asa  Farwell  of  Ashland 
was  made  the  president.  Mrs.  A.  E.  Dean  became  president 
in  1876, — the  wife  of  one  of  the  pastors,  who  herself  was 
born  in  India,  who  had  labored  there  after  her  marriage, 
and  who  went  back  there  in  July,  1901,  after  her  husband's 
death,  to  give  still  further  missionary  service.  The  meet- 
ings were  held  up  to  1887  in  connection  with  the  State 
Association  meetings,  not  as  a  part  of  them  but  in  some 
neighboring  church.  'Many  times,'  as  Mrs.  Sherrill  said  in 
one  of  her  reports,  'by  overcoming  great  obstacles,  leaving 
the  pleasant  gathering  of  our  brethren,  who.  we  know, 
thought  us  much  more  zealous  than  wise,  and  retiring  to 
some  cold,  neighboring  church.' 


\\(i.mi:ns  work  in  nkbkaska  193 

"In  1S77  a  paper  on  'Woman's  \\'c>rk  for  Woman'  by 
.Mrs.  FarwcU,  read  before  the  State  Association  itself,  was 
so  well  received  that  it  had  the  honor  of  being  incorporated 
in  the  minutes  of  that  botly.  There  were  twelve  auxiliaries 
then.  In  1879  a  milestone  was  passed  when  the  women  de- 
cided to  attempt  the  support  of  a  missionary,  Miss  Van 
Duzee  of  Turkey. 

'Tn  1880  it  was  resolved  to  raise  an  equal  sum  for  home 
missions.  The  report  of  this  year  says,  'Our  infancy  is 
jmst,  and  we  enter  upon  our  next  stage  with  great  promise.' 
Four  hundred  and  sixty-two  dollars  were  raised  that  year, 
three-fourths  going  to  foreign  work  and  one-fourth  to 
home.  It  has  taken  Christian  people  longer  to  realize  that 
there  is  as  much  of  a  responsibility  upon  us  for  home 
missions  as  for  foreign. 

"The  Nebraska  Woman's  Board  of  Missions  was  or- 
ganized with  that  fact  in  view.  It  was  to  be  a  union  effort, 
one  society  working  for  the  entire  missionary  field.  But 
owing  to  the  tardiness  of  the  home  missionary  consciousness 
and  urgent  foreign  missionary  pressure  from  the  Woman's 
Board  of  the  Interior,  which  had  been  organized  in  1868, 
it  was  the  foreign  work  which  received  the  lion's  share  of 
the  gifts.  Airs.  Sherrill  writes  in  1880:  'The  proposition 
to  change  our  name  and.  constitution,  and  limit  our  work  to 
foreign  missions  so  as  to  become  auxiliary  to  the  W.  B. 
M.  I.,  has  been  discussed  every  year,  but  the  feeling  pre- 
vails that  we  can  not  exclude  from  our  thought  and  prayers 
and  gifts  the  society  that  is  working  to  Christianize  our  own 
land,  both  because  that  society  needs  our  allegiance,  and 
because  we  need  that  our  intelligence  and  activities  be 
stimulated  by  connection  with  it.' 

"Nevertheless  the  receipts   fell  off,  and  because  the  so- 
ciety had  pledged  a  definite  amount  for  the  support  of  their 
foreign  w"orkers,  it  was  the  home  cause  which  suffered. 
1  ^ 


194  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

"In  1883  two  treasurers  were  appointed.  In  1884  the 
W.  B.  M.  I.  called  for  $750.  That  year  there  was  raised 
for  foreign  missions  $892.66,  for  home  missions  $313.89, 
for  the  Educational  Commission  $2,  for  the  A.  M.  A.  $22, 
for  the  American  Congregational  Union — our  present 
Church  Building  Society — $5.  These  sums  show  the  rela- 
tive importance,  in  the  eyes  of  the  women,  of  these  various 
societies. 

"While  the  amounts  increased  and  home  missions  gained 
as  the  years  went  by,  and  many  of  the  founders  and  strong 
supporters  of  the  society  believed  most  earnestly  in  union, 
it  was  voted  in  1887  at  the  meeting  held  in  Lincoln  that  'the 
Woman's  Missionary  Association  limit  its  work  to  foreign 
missions,  being  auxiliary  to  the  W.  B.  M.  I.,  and  that  we 
form  a  Woman's  Home  Missionary  Society  of  Nebraska.' 
This  accounts  for  the  fact  that  the  Branch  (the  foreign 
work)  reports  date  of  their  meetings  from  the  very  begin- 
ning, 1873,  and  the  Union  (the  home  work)  from  1888. 
That  is,  the  annual  report  of  1904  is  the  thirty-first  of  the 
Branch  and  the  seventeenth  of  the  Union. 

"From  that  time  to  the  present  there  have  been  two  sets 
of  officers  and  two  state  headquarters,  but  the  meetings  "are 
always  held  together  at  the  same  place,  and  the  local  soci- 
eties have  never  divided.  There  is  the  utmost  harmony  in 
the  work,  a  mid-winter  fellowship  and  consultation  of  the 
officers  of  both  societies  having  been  held  in  1888  and  1904. 
The  first  reports  after  the  division  were  published  together ; 
then  each  pursued  her  own  way  until  1903,  when  they  were 
published  together  once  more. 

"After  the  division  there  were  more  active  efforts  put 
forth  for  the  home  missionary  cause.  Special  circular  let- 
ters w^ere  sent  to  every  pastor,  and  there  were  added  thirty- 
three  new  auxiliaries  during  the  year.  The  church  in  Ken- 
sington, Connecticut,  sent  $100  to  encourage  the  new-born 


WOAIKX  S    WOKK    IX    XKIiKASKA  195 

child.  \l  ihc  close  i)f  the  }ear  there  were  fifteen  juni(jr 
and  juvenile  societies,  one  of  them  being  a  boys'  club  in 
South  Uend.  J'oxes  for  the  home  missionaries  were  pre- 
pared. There  was  raised  for  the  home  work  $1,105.82, 
including;  the  $100  from  Connecticut,  against  $513  the  year 
before.  The  foreign  work  saw  quite  an  increase  also, 
$1,000  coming  into  its  treasury. 

"There  was  a  steady  increase  in  gifts,  with  some  fluctua- 
tions, until  the  year  1892,  when  the  high-water  mark  was 
reached  for  the  Union — $2,002.43,  the  Branch  that  year  rais- 
ing $2,185.34,  and  the  next  more  still,  $2,345. 

"Then  came  on  the  hard  times  and  a  most  discouraging 
drop,  falling  down  in  1897  to  $1,280  for  the  Branch  and  in 
1899  to  $1,091   for  the  Union. 

"Again  prosperity  is  making  itself  felt  throughout  the 
state,  and  this  time  of  a  more  solid  character.  Receipts 
are  rising.  But  just  as  business  men  are  more  cautious  in 
their  ventures  the  women  are  not  as  liberal  accordingly  as 
they  were  in  earlier  days.  But  each  year  a  higher  goal  is 
set,  and  it  is  hoped  soon  not  only  to  reach  but  to  pass  our 
former  high-water  mark. 

"During  the  last  two  years  there  has  been  broader  intelli- 
gence concerning  foreign  missions  owing  to  the  svstematic 
study  of  the  most  admirable  books  prepared  by  the  national 
boards,  and  consequently  a  more  real  interest  in  those  aux- 
iliaries where  such  study  is  carried  on.  Mention  should  be 
made  of  the  special  library  fund  raised  by  the  Union,  by  the 
])ublishing  of  a  serial  story  called  'Inasmuch.'  Twelve 
chapters  were  written  by  well-known  women,  including 
Mrs.  Caswell  and  Mrs.  Sangster.  The  sale  of  these  books 
at  twenty-five  cents  has  brought  in  enough  money  to  buy 
and  circulate  a  library  of  forty  home  missionary  volumes. 
The  liranch  also  has  a  half  dozen  books  in  this  collection. 


196  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

"Nebraska  has  two  young  ladies"  missionary  societies, 
one  at  Vine  Street  Church,  Lincoln,  and  one  at  Weeping 
Water.  These  have  a  splendid  record,  but  for  the  most 
part  the  young  ladies'  work  has  been  merged  in  that  of  the 
C.  E.  S.  The  children's  department  has  been  quite  success- 
ful, with  special  objects  to  work  for.  Of  late  years  in 
some  of  the  larger  churches  the  departmental  plan  has  been 
adopted,  all  the  women  in  the  church  being  united  in  one 
association  with  various  departments,  chosen  according  to 
individual  preference.  The  missionary  department  of  such, 
associations  is  counted  as  an  auxiliary.  In  1894  there  was 
one  German  auxiliary  organized  by  the  pastor  at  Princeton. 
The  same  year  Mrs.  Caswell  spent  several  weeks  in  the 
state  visiting  the  local  societies  in  the  interest  of  home  mis- 
sions, and  in  1898  Miss  Wright,  Field  Secretary  of  the 
W.  B.  M.  I.,  did  the  same. 

"The  women's  work  in  Nebraska  has  had  in  the  past 
most  faithful  women  at  the  helm,  pouring  into  it  effort, 
strength,  and  patience  of  which  few  will  ever  know.  The 
result  has  been  not  a  brilliant  record,  but  a  creditable  one 
in  its  breadth  of  view,  practical  methods,  financial  fruitage, 
and  warm  Christian  fellowship." 

The  following  list  of  presidents  and  secretaries  of  the 
women's  work  in  Nebraska  has  been  compiled  by  Mrs.  H. 
Bross,  and  is  of  no  little  interest : 

PRESIDENT.S 

Mrs.  Asa  Farwell,  1875-76.       Mrs.  S.  C.  Dean,  1876-87. 

"branch"  presidents 

Mrs.  S.  C.  Dean,  1887-88.  Mrs.  F.  L.  Fitchett,  1894-99. 

Mrs.  G.  W.  Hall,  1888-93.         None,  1899-1900. 

Mrs.  J.  G.  Haines,  1893-94.       Mrs.  E.  H.  Wood,  1900-. 


women's  work  in  nehraska  197 

''union'"    I'UESIDENTS 

iMrs.  S.  H.  Lcavitt,  1887-91.  Mrs.  J.  T.  Diiryea,  1893-95. 

Mrs.      Whitfield      Sanford,  Mrs.  D.  B.  Perry,  1895- 1901. 

1891-92.  Mrs.  M.  A.  Bullock,  1901-03. 

Mrs.  S.  H.  Leavitt,  1892-93.  Rev.  Laura  IL  Wild,  1905-. 

SECRETARIES 

Mrs.  J.  E.  Elliott,  1873-74.  Mrs.  A.  F.  Sherrill,  1879-83. 
Mrs.  G.  W.  Hall,  1874-75.  Mrs.  H.  A.  Leavitt,  1883-84. 
Mrs.  H.  Bates,  1875-79.  Mrs.  E.  L.  Childs,  1884-87. 

"URAN'Cn"     SECRETARIES 

Mrs.  N.  C.  Bosworth,  1887-     Mrs.   W.   H.  Russell,   1894- 

90.  1900- 

Mrs.  A.  R.  Thain,  1890-94.        ^Irs.  W\  A.  Higgin,  1900-. 

"union"  secretaries 

Mrs.  L.  F.  Berr}-,  1887-90.        Mrs.  S.  C.  Dean,  1893-94. 
Mrs.  E.  S.  Smith,  1890-92.       Mrs.  H.  Bross,   1894-. 
Mrs.  W.  R.  Dawes,  1892-93. 


h 


PART  II 


CONGREGATIONAL  SCHOOLS  IN  NEBRASKA 


I 


I 

Congregational   Educational    Institutions 

THE    FONTANELLE   SCHOOL 

At  the  second  meetini;  of  the  State  Association  held  at 
Fremont,  October  30,  1857,  and  called  "The  First  Annual 
Meeting,"  a  preliminary  meeting  for  organization  having 
been  held  in  Omaha,  .Viigust  8,  1857,  it  was 

"Resolved,  That  we  deem  it  expedient  to  take  measures 
to  lay  the  foundation  of  a  literary  institution  of  a  high  or- 
der in  Nebraska. 

"Resolved,  That  a  committee  of  three  be  appointed  to 
take  into  consideration  the  location  of  the  literary  institution. 

"Resolved,  That  R.  Gaylord  of  Omaha  and  P.  Allen  of 
Ft.  Calhoun  be  two  of  this  committee,  and  that  F)rother 
Gaylord  select  the  other  in  Omaha.  Voted,  That  this  com- 
mittee view  locations,  receive  propositions,  and,  if  thought 
expedient,  call  a  special  meeting  of  the  association."^ 

This  is  the  first  record  of  action  looking  toward  Congre- 
gational education  in  Nebraska.  Our  pioneer  fathers  could 
not  well  be  good  Congregationalists  without  building  a 
college. 

True  to  the  historic  spirit  of  the  denomination  they  be- 
gan building  up  a  Christian  school  as  soon  as  they  were 
organized  into  an  association  of  churches. 

In  compliance  with  the  preceding  resolution  JNIoderator 
Gaylord  called  a  special  meeting  of  the  association  at  Fon- 
tanelle,  January  5,  1858,  to  consider  the  question  of  found- 
ing an  institution  of  learning. 

'  ATanuscript   Minutes,    1857,   p.   10. 

201 


202  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

Mention  has  been  siiade  in  a  preceding  chapter-  of  the 
effort  of  Dr.  John  M.  Ellis  to  locate  a  colony  and  establish 
a  Congregational  college.  A  year  earlier  than  that,  "on 
the  24th  day  of  June,  1854,  less  than  thirty  days  after  the 


LOGAN  FONTENELLE,    CHIEF  OF  THE  OMAHAS 

passage  of  the  Kansas-Nebraska  act,  a  little  company  of 
Qiiincy  (Illinois)  people  met  together  and  organized  the 
'Nebraska  Colonization  Company.'  "^ 

^Part  I,  chap.  11. 

'Caldwell's  Education  in  Nebraska,  p.  165. 


THE    FONTAXELLE    SCHOOL  203 

This  company,  in  carryiiio-  out  their  project,  legated,  Scp- 
teniher  15  of  the  same  year,  the  town  of  Fontanelle  on  the 
east  side  of  the  Elkhoru  river  a  few  miles  northwest  of 
Omaha,  and  named  after  Lot;an  Fontenelle.  a  half-breed 
Indian,  chief  of  the  Omaha  tribe,  who  had  rendered  them 
valuable  assistance.  There  a  tract  of  112  acres  was  set 
apart  for  Nebraska  I'niversity.  Says  Prof.  A.  B.  Show: 
"It  would  be  difficult  to  find  a  more  satisfactory  location 
for  a  college.  The  westward  view  is  broad  and  charmin_e;-, 
embracing-  in  its  sweep  not  only  the  Elkhorn  and  its  tribu- 
taries, but  also  the  wide  valley  of  the  Platte  many  miles  to 
the  south.  It  did  not  seem  visionary  to  expect  that  some 
day  a  half  score  of  substantial  college  buildings  would  look 
down  from  this  height  upon  a  thickly  populated  and  pros- 
perous community."'* 

Rev.  W.  W.  Keep,  a  Baptist  clergyman,  was  one  of  the 
leading  promoters  of  the  colony,  trustee  and  financial  agent 
of  the  university,  and  it  may  be  it  was  intended  to  establish 
a  Baptist  colony  and  build  up  a  Baptist  college.  Professor 
Show  says:  "The  evidence  is  not  clear  and  satisfactory. 
.  .  .  In  the  first  board  of  trustees  of  which  a  record  re- 
mains, that  of  1856-57,  three  out  of  eight  trustees  were 
already  members  of  the  Fontanelle  Congregational  Church 
and  two  others  were  members  before  i860.  In  the  next 
board  of  trustees,  elected  before  the  question  of  transferring 
the  management  had  been  raised,  five  out  of  eleven  were 
Congregationalists,  but  the  chairman.  Rev.  J.  M.  Taggart, 
was  a  Baptist  clergyman."^ 


^Caldwell's  Education  in  Nebraska,  pp.  lG7-f)S.  Professor  Show, 
who  writes  of  Congregational  educational  institutions  in  Education 
m  Nebraska,  has  done  such  thorough  and  scientific  work  that  when 
we  quote  from  him  we  are  assured  there  is  no  need  for  further  re- 
search in  the  matter  quoted. 

°Ibid.,  p.   t71. 


204  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

The  firsr.  church  organized  in  Fontanelle°  was  Congre- 
gational, and  "quite  a  number  of  these  were  from  the  Con- 
gregational Church  of  Quincy,  Illinois,"'  showing  that  they 
were  a  part  of  the  colony. 

The  First  Church  in  Omaha  was  organized  May  4,  1856. 
One  week  later  the  church  in  Fontanelle  was  organized 
with  twenty-three  members. 

It  is  quite  evident  that  Congregationalists  predominated 
in  influence,  for  when  Mr.  Gaylord  called  a  special  meeting 
of  the  State  Association  at  Fontanelle,  January  5,  1858,  the 
Nebraska  Colonization  company  and  the  trustees  of  Ne- 
braska University  were  ready  with  proposals  to  transfer 
the  college  to  the  Congregationalists.  In  view  of  these  pro- 
posals and  of  donations  by  the  citizens  of  Fontanelle,  the 
association  voted,  January  6,  1858,  to  locate  the  college  at 
Fontanelle,  Dodge  county,  Nebraska.^  The  next  day  the 
association  considered  the  question  of  a  charter  for  the  new 
college,  appointed  a  committee  to  look  after  the  matter,  and 
instructed  the  moderator  and  clerk,  as  a  committee,  "to 
draw  up  and  arrange  a  contract  with  the  previous  trustees 
and  Nebraska  Colonization  company."^ 

In  accordance  with  this  contract^"  the  State  Association 
of  Congregational  Churches  undertook  to  erect  a  "building 
for  a  preparatory  department  of  sufficient  dimensions  to 
accommodate  100  pupils"  before  the  third  Monday  of  the 
next  October,  and  "a  good  and  substantial  building  for 
college  purposes  of  architectural  proportions"  within  a  pe- 
riod of  five  years. 

The  revised  charter  of  the  Nebraska  University  secured 
by  act  of  the  legislature  October  25,   1858,  "changed  en- 

"The  modern  spelling — Fontanelle— is  used  throughout  this  work. 
'Gaylord's  Life,  p.  188. 
'Manuscript  Minutes,  p.  12. 
'Ibid.,  pp.  12,  13. 
'"Ibid.,  p.  14. 


TllF.    FOXTANIiLLK    SCHOOL  205 

liroly  the  mode  of  electini;-  trustees,  that  power  henceforth 
being-  vested  solely  in  the  Congregational  Association."^^ 
In  the  Ft.  Calhoun  meeting  of  the  association,  October, 
1858,  "much  interest  was  manifested  concerning  the  present 
and  future  prosperity  of  the  institution."^-  It  was  now  a 
child  of  the  church,  and  had  a  lofty  ambition  to  become  a 
leading  western  college. 

A  series  of  misfortunes  made  its  history  a  checkered  one. 
Hard  times  interfered  with  its  material  advancement;  the 
discover}  of  gold  at  Pike's  Peak  took  away  many  of  the 
inhabitants  of  Fontanelle ;  the  Indian  scare  of  1859  l"''^'^'  ^ 
depressing  effect;  and,  above  all,  in  i860  it  was,  by  act  of 
legislature,  detached  from  Dodge  county  and  made  a  part 
of  Washington  county.  The, coveted  county  seat  of  Dodge 
county  went  to  Fremont,  which  secured  also  the  Union 
Pacihc  railroad,  leaving  Fontanelle  to  one  side  and  with 
hopes  of  the  future  largel\  blasted.  College  work  was  sus- 
pended for  a  time,  debts  increased,  and  Mr.  Gaylord  be- 
came actively  engaged  in  securing  funds  from  the  East. 

\Miilc  these  changes  and  disappointments  "proved  the 
death  blow  to  the  future  prospects  of  Fontanelle  as  a  city,"^-'' 
yet  the  pioneer  churches  stood  by  the  infant  college  with  a 
heroism  worthy  of  larger  results. 

In  1864  the  school  resumed  work  under  Miss  A.  B.  Sav- 
age, w  ho  had  charge  of  the  "preparatory  and  ladies'  depart- 
ment." and  in  the  following  spring  Prof.  Henry  E.  Brown, 
a  graduate  of  Oberlin  College,  was  engaged  as  "professor 
of  languages  and  principal  of  the  preparatory  department." 
Professor  Brown  began  work  in  midwinter  (1866?),  and  he 
and  Miss  Savage  continued  the  w^ork  until  the  spring  of 
1867,  when  Professor  Brown  retired  from  the  school. 

"  Education   in  Nebraska,  p.   174'. 
'"]\ranuscript  Minutes,  p.   22. 
^^  Education  in  Nebraska,  p.  176. 


206  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

Rev.  Charles  G.  Bisbee,  who  for  a  year  had  been  pastor 
of  the  Fontanelle  Church,  assumed  charge  of  the  school, 
and  remained  for  some  three  years. 

"He  was  assisted  in  teachinj;-  by  Mrs.  Bisbee,  Miss  Sarah 
Jenny,    Rev.    J.    F.    Kuhlman,    and    perhaps    others.      The 


REV.    C.   G.   BISBEE 

records  do  not  indicate  precisely  the  attendance  of  students 
during-  these  years.  Obviously,  in  that  respect  it  was  the 
most  flourishing  period  in  the  life  of  the  school,  but  at  the 
best  the  number  was  small. "^* 

Rev.  C.  G.  Bisbee  now  resides  in  Arlington,  and  writes  :^^ 

^*  Education  in  Nebraska,  p.   179. 
^^June  14,   1904,  letter  to  writer. 


TiiK  fontani-:llk  school  207 

"You  ask  for  reminiscences  in  regard  to  tlie  early  history 
of  Congregationalism  in  Nebraska.  I  am  >iot  one  of  the 
pioneers.  There  were  Congregational  churches  in  Ne- 
braska fen  years  before  I  came.  I  attended  the  meeting  of 
the  State  Association  of  Congregational  Churches  at  Fon- 
tanclle  in  September,  1866.  The  ministers  and  delegates 
attending  that  meeting  were  in  all  thirteen.  None  of  them 
are  now  living  but  myself.  At  that  time  I  was  elected 
stated  clerk,  and  the  minutes  of  the  association  were  printed 
that  year,  I  think  for  the  first  time  .  .  .  At  the  same 
meeting  I  was  elected  a  trustee  of  the  Nebraska  University, 
the  first  school  of  high  order  which  the  Congregationalists 
of  Nebraska  undertook  to  sustain.  At  the  meeting  of  the 
board  of  trustees  I  was  elected  secretary  of  the  board  and 
clerk  of  the  executive  committee.  I  kci)t  the  records  of 
said  institution  while  it  lasted.  Said  records  can  be  found 
among  the  archives  of  Doane  College. 

'•From  the  minutes  of  the  State  Association  and  the 
records  of  the  Nebraska  University  you  will  find  the  im- 
portant facts  for  your  history  (of  that  period).  But  the 
diftkulties,  trials,  and  arduous  labors  attending  the  estab- 
lishing and  building  up  of  the  Redeemer's  Kingdom  in 
those  early  days  can  not  be  told  in  a  brief  history.  This 
state  is  one  of  magnificant  distances. 

"Yours  truly. 

"C.  G.  Bisbe:e." 

"About  the  beginning  of  1871  Mr.  Bisbee  resigned,  and 
Mr.  T-  T-  Boulter  was  engaged  to  conduct  the  school.  Un- 
der his  supervision  instruction  continued  until  some  time  in 
1872,  when  it  was  given  up  never  to  be  resumed."  ^"^ 

Dififerent  causes  brought  about  the  downfall  of  the  school : 
The  first  in  point  of  time  was  doubtless  the  failure  of  Fon- 

'"  Education  in  Nebraska,  p.  180. 


THE    FONTANELLE   SCHOOL  209 

tanclle  to  develop  as  a  town,  due  to  its  failure  to  secure  the 
railroad  and  the  county  seat.  In  the  beginning  it  tried  also 
to  secure  the  capital  of  the  territory. 

These  disappointments  resulted  in  the  collapse  of  the 
town,  which  niigiit  have  become  a  small  college  town  had 
not  a  second  factor  entered  into  the  problem  of  its  exist- 
ence— the  removal  of  the  capital  from  Omaha  to  Lincoln. 
This  and  the  establishment  of  the  state  university  at  Lin- 
coln caused  the  more  rapid  development  of  southern  and 
southeastern  Nebraska.  Immigration  went  that  way.  Con- 
gregational churches  were  organized,  and  by  1871  there 
was  a  strong  sentiment  in  favor  of  a  new  location  for  a 
Congregational  college,  ^^'eeping  Water  with  its  compara- 
tively strong  church  made  a  bid  for  it.  ]\Iilford  with  its 
academy  already  in  operation  wanted  it.  Crete  with  its 
academy,  with  its  pastor  Rev.  Fred  Alley,  backed  by  the 
strong  influence  of  Mr.  Thomas  Doane,  and  the  Burlington 
&  Alissouri  river  railroad  was  persistent  in  asking  for  the 
college.  It  also  put  in  the  plea  of  having  a  central  location, 
and  Nebraska  is  a  large  state.  It  began  to  look  dark  for 
Fontanelle. 

At  the  Freniont  meeting  of  the  General  Association,  1869, 
the  report  from  Fontanelle  was  discouraging.  One  must 
read  between  the  lines  to  catch  the  spirit  of  the  meeting. 
The  following  resolution  was  adopted: 

"Resolved,  That  a  committee  be  appomted  to  have  power 
to  convey  all  the  property,  right,  and  title  we  possess  in  the 
Nebraska  University  to  tlu;  citizens  of  Fontanelle,  as  oer 
original  contract,  or  to  such  other  persons  as  the  trustees 
may  decide  upon.'"^' 

In  1870  the  association  heard  a  report  from  Fontanelle 
but  took  no  action. 

"Minutes,  1869,  p.    16. 
14 


2IO  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

In  1 87 1  the  association  met  in  Lincoln.  Something  evi- 
dently had  been  done  during  the  year.  The  Burlington  & 
Missouri  river  railroad  compaijy  gave  the  association  a  free 
excursion  to  Crete  and  return.  While  at  Crete  the  associa- 
tion assisted  in  laving  the  cornerstone  of  the  nev/  academy 
building.  College  matters  were  generally  discussed.  The 
following  significant  resolutions  were  adopted : 

"I.  Resolved,  That  we  believe  the  time  has  come  to  take 
measures  for  the  establishment  of  two  or  more  academies. 

"11.  Resolved,  That  Fontanelle  has  strong'  claims  upon 
the  association  for  sympathy,  and  we  commend  the  institu- 
tion at  that  place  to  the  confidence  of  our  people. 

"HI.  Resolved,  That  the  people  of  Milford  and  Crete 
shall  have  the  sympathy  and  good  will  of  the  association., 
to  do  all  they  can  in  establishing  first-class  academies  at  their 
respective  points. 

'TV.  Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  the  association  arc 
due  to  the  people  of  Milford  and  Crete,  and  also  to  the 
Burlington  &  Missouri  river  railroad  company  for  the  very 
generous  offers  they  have  made  us  in  the  matter  of  locating 
a  college;  and  that  the  association  respectfully  :isk  further 
time  for  considering  the  matter. "^^ 

At  this  same  meeting  Supt.  O.  W.  Merrill  introduced  the 
following  resolution  which  was  also  ndopted: 

"Resolved,  That  it  is  the  sense  of  this  association  that 
we  should  concentrate  our  educational  efforts  on  our  acade- 
mies and  our  one  college  for  our  order  in  the  state."^" 

That  emphatic  "one"  has  a  peculiar  significance.  The 
resolution  is  prophetic.  Doane  College  has  its  "Merrill 
Hall." 

''Minutes,  1871,  p.   12. 
'"Ibid. 


THE    FONTANELLE    SCHOOL  211 

Milford  and  Crete  at  this  meeting  of  the  association  pre- 
sented definite  bids  for  the  college.  Rev.  O.  W.  Merrill, 
Rev.  Julius  A.  Reed,  and  George  Lee  were  appointed  a  com- 
mittee to  supervise  the  general  educational  interests  in  the 
state  until  tlio  next  meeting  of  die  association. 

This  committee  in  a  voluminous  report  of  marked  literary 
flavor,  the  following  year,  1872.  recommended  that  Crete 
be  chosen  as  the  location  of  the  new  college.  In  the  mean- 
time Weeping  Water  presented  a  strong  showing  in  favor 
of  the  location  there,  so  that  there  were  three  competing 
points,  }^lilford,  Crete,  \\'ecping  Water.  The  report  of  the 
committee  aroused  a  spirited  discussion.  It  was  shown  in 
the  report  that  in  1S70  Nebraska  had  sent  thirty-tv;o  pupils 
to  Tabor  College,  Iowa — "enough  at  that  one  school  to 
make  a  respectable  beginning  were  they  gathered  into  a 
school  of  our  own."  This,  too,  because  Nebraska  had  no 
school  for  them ! 

"The  conclusion  to  which  we  come  is  that  we  have  al- 
ready waited  too  long,  and  that  we  can  not  move  too  soon 
or  too  vigorously.'" 

Some  wanted  to  postpone  action  till  the  next  October. 
This  was  voted  down,  and  the  recommendation  of  the  com- 
mittee that  the  college  be  located  at  Crete  was  adopted  by  a 
decisive  vote.-" 

The  association  then  appointed  trvistees  for  the  new  col- 
lege and  took  initial  steps  to  establish  it. 

A  paper  respecting  "Fontanelle  University"  was  referred 
to  a  committee  consisting  of  Rev.  Messrs.  A.  Dresser,  John 
E.  Elliott,  and  T.  E.  Heaton,  to  report  on  the  following 
year,  and  when  the  re])ort  was  calletl  for.  it  was  "N^o  cause 
of  action."-^ 


'"Minutes,  1872,  pp.  6-11. 
"Minutes,  1873,  p.   10. 


212  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

This  ends  the  history  of  Nebraska  University  so  far  as 
the  State  Association  is  concerned.  "It  can  not  be  said  that 
the  enterprise — the  Fontanelle  School — ever  reached  secure 
footing,  or  even  promised  permanent  success.  At  the  outset 
the  time  was  not  ripe  for  such  undertaking,  and  long  before 
the  general  conditions  were  favorable,  the  particular  lo- 
cality selected  for  the  school  had  ceased  to  claim  attention. "-- 
The  institution  came  to  an  end  in  August,  1873,  but  "May 
15,  1874,  the  trustees  held  their  last  meeting  and  concluded 
tlieir  work.'"-^  This  might  be  called  the  official  ending  of 
the  Fontanelle  school. 

Mr.  Gaylord  was  wont  to  speak  of  the  ''rcmovaV  of  the 
college  from  Fontanelle  to  Crete,"*  but  the  minutes  of  the 
association  show  that  Fontanelle  was  abandoned  and  a  new 
college  oroanized  at  Crete. 


"Education  in  Nebraska,  p.  183. 

''Ibid.,  p.  182. 

■'  See  Gaylord's  Life,  pp.  327,  430. 


DOANF,  COLLEGF  213 

II 

DOAXK  COLLEGI-: 

Doane  Collci^o  was  more  fortunate  in  its  foundinj;-  than 
was  Fontant-lle.  It  had  a  better  financial  backinc:.  Mr. 
Thomas  Doane,  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  and  at  the  time 
chief  enf,nneer  of  the  lUirh'ngton  &  Missouri  river  railroad 
in  Nel)raska,  became  interested  in  the  establishment  of  an 
educational  institution  in  the  state. 

Dr.  Willard  Scott,  at  the  time  pastor  of  St.  Mary's  Ave- 
nue Church  in  Omaha,  gave  an  address  at  the  fifteenth  an- 
niversary exercises  of  Doane  College  and  presented 
a  graphic  picture  of  the  preliminary  work  attending  the 
planting  of  Crete  Academy  : 

"Our  attention  is  now  directed  to  Plattsmouth.  The  Bur- 
lington &  oMissouri  river  railroad  company  in  Nebraska  was 
operating  its  construction  from  that  place  and  pressing 
westward.  At  the  Brooks  House  we  are  asked  into  a  room 
in  the  winter  of  1870-71.  It  is  small;  so  small  that  when 
the  necessary  articles  of  furniture  are  placed,  there  is  room 
only  for  two  large  easy  chairs  and  a  fur  robe,  kept  rolled  up 
and  strapped  ready  for  use  at  short  notice,  in  a  nook  between 
the  bureau  and  the  table.  Here  evening  by  evening — and 
long  evenings  they  seemed  to  the  lady  seated  upon  the  fur 
robe — sit  in  the  easy  chairs  two  gentlemen,  a  civil  engineer 
and  a  preacher,  the  pastor  of  the  First  Congregational 
Church  at  Plattsmouth.  The  theme  is  a  college  and  the 
idea  seems  to  the  lady  on  the  fur  robe  as  'impossible  as  es- 
tablishing one  in  the  moon.'  'Can  we  secure  the  land  ? 
Where  is  the  best  place  for  it?'  Crete  is  proposed  'as  being 
beautifully  situated  upon  the  Big  Blue.' 


DOANE  COLLEGE  215 

"Before  February  20  Mr.  Alley  h<ad  located  there,  enter- 
ing;, it  is  said,  upon  a  load  of  lumber,  and  had  contracted 
with  Mr.  George  W.  Bridges  for  $100  per  year  for  two  years 
to  start  an  academy. 

"Articles  of  incorporation  for  the  Crete  Academy  were 
adopted  May  22,  1871.  June  30  the  president  and  secretary 
were  authorized  to  execute  a  note  to  Mr.  Thomas  Doane 
for  the  amount  of  $2,000,  borrowed  for  building  purposes, 
and  Rev.  Frederic  Alley  was  'requested  to  act  as  principal 
of  the  academy  for  the  coming  year.'  "^ 

The  story  of  the  founding  of  Crete  Academy  is  also  told 
by  Professor  Show : 

"After  the  associational  action  of  1869  and  1870  great 
interest  prevailed  among  the  Congregational  churches  as  to 
the  educational  problem.  Many  minds  were  busy  upon  it. 
During  the  winter  of  1870-71,  the  matter  was  much  dis- 
cussed by  two  men  destined  to  play  conspicuous  parts  in 
the  founding  of  the  future  college — Rev.  Frederic  Alley, 
pastor  of  the  Congregational  Church  at  Plattsmouth,  and 
Thomas  Doane,  chief  engineer  of  the  Burlington  &  A'lissouri 
river  railroad  in  Nebraska,  then  in  the  process  of  construc- 
tion. As  the  result  of  their  deliberations  they  selected  Crete 
as  the  most  desirable  location,  and  decided  to  open  the  way 
for  a  college  by  locating  an  academy.  In  the  spring  of 
1871  Mr.  Alley  moved  to  Crete,  organized  a  church,  and 
devoted  himself,  with  the  constant  aid  of  Mr.  Doane  and 
others,  to  the  establishment  of  Crete  Academy.  The  erec- 
tion of  a  building  was  begun  at  once,  lumber  being  hauled 
twenty  miles  by  team.  On  the  12th  of  June  the  corner- 
stone was  laid,  the  General  Association  coming  down  en 
masse  from  Lincoln,  where  it  was  in  session,  to  witness  the 
ceremony.    The  building  was  dedicated  November  5,  1871."^ 

^Historical  Glimpses,  pp.  8,  9. 
^Education  in  Nebraska,  p.   186. 


2l6  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

Rev.  F.  Alley  was  elected  principal  for  the  first  year  and 
with  him  were  associated  Miss  Mary  W.  Merrill,  Miss 
Kesterton,  and  Miss  Bridges.  It  was  a  prosperous  year  for 
the  school,  a  good  preparatory  year  for  the  college  about 
to  be  organized. 

Among  those  who  had  much  to  do  with  locating  the  col- 
lege and  pushing  forward  its  interests  were  George  S. 
Harris,  a  deacon  in  First  Church,  Lincoln,  and  Rev.  Charles 
Little,  the  first  pastor  of  the  First  Church,  Lincoln.  Through 
their  efforts  as  well  as  those  of  Mr.  Doane  the  railroad 
comi)any  was  led  to  offer  very  liberal  inducements  to  the 
proposed  college.  President  Perry  relates  this  incident  in 
connection  with  the  railroad  grant : 

"An  indescribable  charm  invests  the  story  that  Mr.  Ed- 
ward Mclntyre  of  Seward  tells  of  the  way  in  which  the 
prime  movers  in  the  college  enterprise  were  encouraged  to 
ask  the  railroad  company  for  the  large  grant  of  600  acres. 
These  men  in  earnest  deliberation  had  purposed  to  limit  their 
petition  to  eighty  acres,  but  one  of  them,  Rev.  Charles  Lit- 
tle, at  length,  with  a  peculiar  light  in  his  eye,  says,  'Why  not 
ask  for  the  whole  600  acres?  The  Scriptures  say.  Ask  and 
ye  shall  receive.'  Thereupon  these  college  builders  had  a 
large  accession  of  faith,  and  they  asked  and  received. 

'"That  their  faith  was  rewarded  was  due  in  no  small 
measure  to  the  railroad  land  commissioner,  Mr.  George  S. 
Harris,  who  was  a  large-hearted,  broad-minded  man  who 
took  great  interest  in  all  educational  and  religious  work  in 
the  new  state. "^ 

The  larger  faith  won,  and  the  600  acres  were  received. 

It  was  in  June,  1872,  that  by  vote  of  the  State  Associa- 
tion the  new  Congregational  college  was  located  in  Crete. 
The  academy  was  made  a  preparator\'  school  to  the  college, 

'Historical    Glimpses,   p.   38. 


Prof.  A.  B.  Faircliild 
J.  L.  Tidball 


Prof.  J.  S.  Brown 
Prof.  G.  D.  Swezey 


2l8  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

which  was  duly  incorporated  July  ii,  1872,  and  was  named 
Doane  College  "in  recognition  of  the  services  of  Thomas 
Doane,  Esq.,  of  Charlestown,  Mass.,  who  was  then  among 
its  most  devoted  friends,  and  has  since  proved  its  most  gen- 
erous benefactor."* 

In  addition  to  the  600  acres  donated  to  the  college  by  the 
Burlington  railroad,  the  South  Platte  Land  company  gave 
fifty  town  lots  in  Crete. 

The  college  began  its  work  in  the  academy  building, 
which  for  the  time  being  served  well  for  that  purpose. 

FINANCIAL   STRUGGLE 

The  land  grants  above  mentioned  were  conditional  on  the 
college  raising  $30,000  and  securing  official  recognition  of 
the  Society  for  the  Promotion  of  Collegiate  and  Theologi- 
cal Education.  The  indorsement  was  readily  secured ;  rais- 
ing the  money  meant  a  struggle.^ 

Mr.  Doane  came  to  the  rescue.  He  pledged  $10,000  of 
the  $30,000;  Professor  Perry  raised  $JO,ooo  in  New  Eng- 
land, and  the  remaining  $10,000  was  pledged  in  Nebraska 
The  conditions  were  met  and  the  land  secured. 

At  the  Lincoln  meeting  of  the  association  in  October, 
1874,  Professor  Perry  made  a  committee  report  in  behalf  of 
the  board  of  trustees.  From  this  report  the  following  is 
taken : 

"The  committee  desire  to  put  on  record  that  the  past  year 
the  good  hand  of  our  God  has  helped  us.  The  college  year 
opened  the  9th  of  September  with  a  debt  of  $6,593.97.  O^ 
this  $2,250  were  in  the  banks.  The  financial  crisis  came, 
and  the  banks  refused  to  renew.  For  a  time  the  college 
treasurer  was  in  darkness  like  that  of  Egypt.     A  generous 

'Education  in  Nebraska,  p.  187. 
'Ibid.,   p.    191. 


DOANE  COLLEGE  219 

frund  cast  who  promised  Sr,ooo,  payable  in  five  years, 
upon  heing"  inloniied  of  our  eiul)arrassnient,  mniertook  to 
meet  the  pledge  at  onee.  He  borrowed  money  at  18  per  cent 
interest  and  sent  on  the  full  amount  promptly,  to  our  great 
relief.  (Others  exerted  themselves  in  a  similar  way.  By 
such  sacrifices  the  college  was  lifted  out  of  deljt."'' 

"At  comniencement,  1874,  the  trustees  reported  tlie  _\oung 
institutit^n  out  of  debt,  with  $500  in  the  treasury,  and  with 
$30,000  in  notes  and  pledges."" 

When  we  remember  the  financial  straits  to  vrhich  men 
were  reduced  b\-  the  devastation  from  grasshoppers  and  by 
the  prevailing  hard  times,  it  seems  wonderful  that  Doane 
College  emerged  as  well  as  it  did  out  of  its  financial  diffi- 
culties. Surely  the  good  hand  of  our  God  helped  it  and 
the  people  made  sacrifices  for  it. 

In  these  and  other  trying  times  Mr.  Thomas  Doane  proved 
VAQ  loyal  friend  and  generous  supporter  of  the  college. 
Through  the  kindness  of  Pres.  D.  B.  Perry  we  are  permitted 
to  use  the  following  sketch  of  his  life,  which  will  be  of  in- 
terest to  all  lovers  of  Doane  College. 

SKETCH   OF  THOMAS  DOANE 

"Thomas  Doane,  son  of  John  and  Polly  Eldridge  Doane, 
was  born  at  Orleans,  Alassachusetts,  September  20,  1821. 
The  Doane  family  has  been  closely  identified  with  the  de- 
velopment of  New  England,  and  the  Pilgrim  ancestry  of  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  w'as  shown  in  his  life  work.  Deacon 
John  Doane  was  a  member  of  the  Plymouth  settlement  as 
early  as  1630,  and  from  that  date  until  the  present  the  an- 
nals of  that  section  of  New  England  are  filled  with  the  men- 
tion of  members  of  the  Doane  family.     A  descendant  of  the 

"Minutes,  1874,  p.  9. 
'Education  in  Nebraska,  p.  192. 


220  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

Puritans,  Thomas  Doane  combined  in  his  character  the 
rugged  honesty,  the  tireless  industry,  the  love  of  reHgious 
liberty,  and  the  hatred  of  sham  and  pretense,  that  character- 
ized the  men  and  women  who  landed  upon  Plymouth  Rock 
and  set  about  to  conquer  the  wilderness  of  an  unknown 
hemisphere.  His  early  education  was  received  in  an  acad- 
emy established  in  the  Cape  Cod  district  of  INIassachusetts 
by  his  father  and  others.  x\fter  completing  the  course  re- 
quired by  this  academy  he  spent  five  terms  at  Phillips  Acad- 
emy, Andover.  Early  in  life  he  conceived  a  liking  for  civil 
engineering,  and  determined  to  make  that  his  profession. 
His  father,  John  Doane,  was  one  of  the  best  known  lawyers 
in  the  Cape  district,  but  the  son  had  no  taste  for  the  law. 
U])on  leaving  the  academy  at  Andover  he  entered  the  office 
of  Samuel  M.  Felton,  one  of  the  noted  civil  engineers  of 
his  time.  Mr.  Felton's  office  was  at  Charlestown,  and  here 
Thomas  Doane  studied  for  three  years,  as  was  the  custom 
at  that  time.  Immediately  after  this  term  of  study  he  en- 
tered upon  the  active  pursuit  of  his  profession.  His  first 
professional  engagement  was  as  engineer  of  the  Windsor, 
White  river  division  of  the  Vermont  Central  railroad, 
wdiere  his  work  soon  attracted  wide  attention.  From  1847 
until  1849  h^  ^^'^^  resident  engineer  of  the  Cheshire  railroad 
at  Walpole,  New  Hampshire.  In  December,  1849,  ^^  ^^" 
turned  to  Charlestown,  Massachusetts,  and  established  an 
office,  conducting  a  civil  engineering  and  surveying  business 
either  personally  or  through  capable  assistants.  He  con- 
tinued this  office  up  to  the  time  of  his  death.  His  ability 
as  an  engineer  was  recognized  in  all  engineering  circles, 
and  at  different  times  he  was  connected  with  all  of  the  rail- 
roads running  out  of  Boston,  particularly  the  Boston  & 
]\Iaine. 

"In  1863  the  state  of  Massachusetts  assumed  the  work  of 
building  the  Hoosac  tunnel,  and  the  board  of  commission- 


COLONEL  THOMAS  DOANE 


222  CONGREGATIONAL,  NEBRASKA 

ers  at  once  engaged  Mr.  Doane  as  chief  engineer.  With 
characteristic  energy  he  proceeded  to  relocate  the  tunnel 
line  and  established  new  grades.  The  distance  to  be  tun- 
neled was  nearly  five  miles.  He  pushed  the  borings  on  four 
faces  from  both  sides  of  the  mountain  and  a  central  shaft, 
and  so  accurate  were  his  measurements  and  levels  that  the 
centers  of  the  borings  met  with  a  variation  in  alignment  of 
only  nine-sixteenths  of  an  inch  in  one  case  and  five-six- 
teenths of  an  inch  in  the  other.  He  was  a  pioneer  in  the 
use  of  compressed  air  in  this  country,  and  he  built  a  dam 
across  the  Deerfield  river  to  furnish  power  for  the  turbine 
wheels  to  operate  his  air  compressors.  The  successful  use 
of  nitro-glycerine,  drilling  by  machine  drills  operated  by 
compressed  air,  and  'simultaneous  blasting'  by  electricity 
were  here  established  for  the  first  time  in  the  United  States. 
Naturally  this  attracted  universal  attention,  for  at  that  time 
the  Hoosac  tunnel  was  justly  considered  one  of  the  engi- 
neering marvels  of  the  world.  In  his  book  on  tunneling, 
Mr.  Henry  S.  Drinker  pays  the  following  deserved  tribute 
to  Mr.  Doane's  ability  as  an  engineer  and  his  energy  in  ex- 
ploring the  field  of  compressed  air  and  mechanical  con- 
trivance for  tunnel  work :  'Mr.  Doane's  connection  with 
the  Hoosac  tunnel  in  the  early  days  of  that  great  work  is 
not  a  matter  of  especial  but  of  universal  interest  to  the 
engineering  profession  in  America,  for  to  his  persistent 
energy,  far-seeing  sagacity,  and  his  able  management  we 
in  a  large  measure  and,  in  fact,  chiefly  owe  the  develop- 
ment and  introduction  into  this  country  of  the  present  ad- 
vanced system  of  tunneling  with  machinery  and  high  ex- 
plosives. It  Avas  under  his  direction  as  engineer  of  the 
commission  that  the  state  experiments  were  made,  and  the 
long  and  disheartening  fight  carried  through  which  ter- 
minated in  favor  of  the  new  system,  the  system  which  has 
since  given  us  the  Burleigh,  Ingersoll,  and  Wood  drills,  and 


DOANE  COLLEGE  223 

which  also  first  showed  Americans  practicall}  what  the 
potent  agency  of  nitro-glycerine,  first  apphed  by  Nobel  in 
Europe,  actually  was.' 

"In  1869  Mr.  Doane  was  called  west  and  became  chief 
engineer  and  superintendent  of  the  I^urlington  &  Missouri 
river  railroad  in  Nebraska,  an  extension  of  the  Chicago, 
lUu-lington  &  Ouincy  system.  Though  new  to  the  West  he 
gave  the  men  of  the  West  an  example  in  their  own  push 
and  energy,  and  in  less  than  four  years  completed  241  miles 
of  road  on  the  frontier,  establishing  a  steam  ferry  at  Platts- 
mouth  and  building  and  maintaining  a  telegraph  line  the 
full  length  of  the  road.  And  on  a  rush  order  he  surveyed 
the  branch  line  from  Crete  to  Beatrice,  the  distance  of  thirty 
miles,  and  had  the  road  ready  for  operation  in  ninety  days. 
He  named  the  towns  on  the  line  between  Plattsmouth  and 
Kearney,  and  this  will  explain  the  frequent  recurrence  of 
New  England  names — Dorchester,  Exeter,  Harvard,  Low- 
ell, etc.  This  line  w'as  built  with  a  view  to  economy  of 
operation,  and  time  has  proved  the  soundness  of  his  judg- 
ment in  constructing  the  road  on  the  low  grades  he 
established. 

"In  1871  Mr.  Doane  thoroughly  identified  himself  as  a 
citizen  of  Crete,  Nebraska,  selecting  what  is  now  known 
as  the  college  section,  on  which  he  erected  a  dwelling-house 
and  occupied  it  with  his  family  during  his  connection  with 
the  Burlington  system.  In  1873  IMr.  Doane  returned  to 
Charlestown  and  shortly  after  was  reappointed  consulting 
engineer  of  the  Hoosac  tunnel  and  also  of  the  reconstruc- 
tion of  the  Troy  &  Greenfield  railway.  On  February  9, 
1875,  the  Hoosac  tunnel  w'as  opened  and  Mr.  Doane  ran 
the  first  train  through.  He  remained  in  charge  of  the  tun- 
nel work  until  1877.  In  1879  he  was  appointed  consulting 
and  acting  chief  engineer  of  the  Northern  Pacific  railroad 
and  served  in  this  capacity  for  one  year.     From  that  time 


2  24  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

on  Mr.  Doane  devoted  liimself  chiefly  to  office  practice  as 
a  consulting'  engineer. 

"While  in  Nchraska  Mr.  Doane  saw  the  possibilities  of 
the  country  and  believed  that  it  would  soon  become  a  pop- 
ulous and  wealthy  section  of  the  republic.  His  first  thought 
was  a  characteristic  one — how  best  to  provide  for  the  edu- 
cational growth  of  the  young  commonwealth. 

"Before  the  railroad  reached  Crete  he  took  a  prominent 
part  in  the  effort  to  establish  a  college  there.  Cooperating 
with  the  land  commissioner,  Mr.  George  S.  Harris,  and 
others,  he  secured  from  the  Burlington  railroad  company 
the  offer  of  a  beautiful  college  site  just  east  of  Crete,  em- 
bracing in  all  600  acres,  and  when  the  Congregational 
churches  of  Nebraska  in  General  Association  had  located 
their  college  at  this  point,  he  gave  liberally  of  his  means  to 
make  it  a  success.  In  recognition  of  his  services  the  college 
was  named  after  him,  and  for  many  years  he  was  the  effi- 
cient chairman  of  its  board  of  trustees.  His  interest  in  the 
college  never  waned,  and  from  his  eastern  home  he  did 
much  to  guide  it  by  wise  counsel  and  tide  it  over  financial 
difficulties.  He  was  rarely  absent  from  its  annual  com- 
mencements, though  his  attendance  involved  a  journey  of 
3,000  miles.  He  made  generous  provision  for  the  college 
in  his  will,  and  a  large  part  of  his  estate  has  become  a  per- 
manent college  endowment.  Doane  College  is  fvilfilling  the 
expectation  of  its  founders.  Froni  its  walls  are  going  forth 
young  men  and  women  who  are  making  their  mark  in  the 
world  and  leaving  a  noble  impress  upon  their  generation. 

"Mr.  Doane  was  also  one  of  the  founders  of  the  first  bank 
established  in  Crete  in  1S72  and  its  first  president.  During 
the  years  that  he  was  actively  engaged  in  his  profession  he 
received  many  young  men  into  his  office  as  students,  and  a 
goodly  number  of  these  have  carved  their  names  high  in  the 
engineering  world.     For  upwards  of  twenty  years  he  was  a 


DOANE   COLLEGE  225 

iiK'inber  of  the  IjosIou  Society  of  Civil  Eng-ineers  and  for 
nine  years  its  president.  He  was  q^reatly  interested  in 
various  educational  and  charitable  institutions,  and  took  an 
active  part  in  relii^ious  work. 

"November   5,    1850,    Mr.    Doane   was   married    to    Miss 
Sophia   D.   Clark,   who   died   December    i,    i8(>8.      To   this 
union  five  children  were  born,  viz.:  Mrs.  David  J  I.  Perry, 
wife  of  the  President  of  Doane  College-;  Mrs.  William  O. 
W'eeden,  Concord,  jNlassachusetts ;  Mrs.  Henry  P>.  Twombly, 
Summit,  Wnv  Terse\- ;  the  Rev.  John  Doane,  Fremont,  Ne- 
braska ;  and  TlTomas  who  died  in  infancy.     November  19, 
1870,  Mr.  Doane  was  married  a  second  time  to  Miss  Louisa 
.\.  Parber  of  Brattleboro,  Vermont,  who  was  in  close  sym- 
pathy with  him  in  his  Nebraska  enterprises,  taking  an  active 
part   in  the  first  efl'orts  to  establish  the   college  at  Crete. 
October  22,  1897,  after  a  short  illness  and  while  on  a  visit 
at  ^^'cst  Townshend,   Vermont,   he   departed  this  life.      It 
was  fitting  that  he  should  pass  away  among  the  rock-ribbed 
hills  and  amid  the  trees  he  loved  so  well,  the  maples  all 
aglow  with  autumn's  choicest  colors.     His  grave  is  in  the 
old  family  burial  ground  at  Orleans,  Massachusetts,  a  com- 
manding knoll  which  looks  out  over  a  pleasantly  diversified 
landscape  and  the  great  sea,  an  environment  rich  in  ances- 
tral associations.    Of  him  it  may  be  well  said  that  the  world 
was  better  because  of  his  having  lived.     Successful  in  the 
management  of  his  own  business  afifairs,  he  took  delight  in 
assisting  others,  and  he  was  never  more  ])leased  than  when 
doing   something   to  help  those  about  him   to   higher  and 
better  things.    The  long  line  of  generations  constituting  the 
Doane  family  contains  many  illustrious  men,  but  none  was 
more  so  than  Thomas  Doane,  founder  of  Doane  College. 
The  family  is  an  old  one,  probably  of  Nomian  origin,  its 
history    being    traceable    to    the   year    1000.      There    were 
Doancs  with  ^^^illiam  the  Conqueror ;  Doanes  were  promi- 
15 


226  CONGREGATIONAL   NEBRASKA 

nent  in  English  church  history ;  they  were  conspicuous  in 
the  civil  life  of  England.  When  the  good  ship  Fortune 
sailed  from  Wales  in  the  wake  of  the  historic  Mayflower 
a  Doane  placed  his  name  upon  the  passenger  register  and 
established  the  family  in  the  new  world. 

"From  such  stock  as  this  sprang  the  eminent  engineer 
and  philanthropist  whose  monument  is  the  splendid  college 
upon  the  upland  overlooking  the  beautiful  valley  of  the  Big 
Blue  where  the  river,  as  seen  from  college  heights,  turns 
sharply  to  the  west  to  make  room  for  the  picturesque  little 
city  of  Crete,  Nebraska.  Not  marble  shaft  or  polished  brass 
can  best  perpetuate  his  memory,  but  it  will  live  forever  in 
the  minds  and  hearts  of  thousands  who  have  been,  and  will 
yet  be  made  better  and  more  useful  citizens  by  reason  of  his 
integrity,  his  wisdom,  his  enterprise,  his  liberality,  and  his 
devout  Christianity." 

THE    HEAD    OF    THE    COLLEGE 

In  187 1  Mr.  David  Brainerd  Perry,  graduate  of  Yale 
College  and  Theological  Seminary,  traveler  and  student  in 
Germany,  Italy,  and  Switzerland,  tutor  in  Yale  College,  de- 
cided to  be  a  missionary  on  the  western  frontier,  and  asked 
for  one  of  the  hardest  fields.  He  was  stationed  at  Aurora, 
-  and  the  same  year,  1872,  was  ordained  at  Crete  to  the  Gospel 
ministry. 

Mr.  Perry  was  the  man  whom  the  trustees  decided  to 
call  to  take  charge  of  the  new  college ;  he  accepted  the  call 
and  began  service  in  the  autumn  of  1872,  being,  during  the 
first  year,  the  only  teacher  in  the  school.  Thirteen  students 
were  in  attendance,  but  at  the  end  of  the  year  five  young 
men,  examined  and  approved  by  the  trustees  July  i,  1873, 
entered  the  freshman  class  of  Doane  College,  and  at  the 
July  meeting,  1873,  the  trustees  elected  Mr.  Perry  professor 
of  Greek  and  Latin,  and  also  Miss  Mary  W.  Merrill  as 


DOANE   COLLEGIA  227 

principal  of  the  preparatory  department  and  teacher  of  Ger- 
man and  French.  As  yet  the  office  of  president  had  not 
been  created,  but  Professor  Perry  had  charge  of  the 
institution. 

He  has  tlie  unique  record  of  being  the  first  teacher  in 
Doane  College,  its  first  professor  in  charge  of  the  school, 
and  its  first  and  only  president,  being  elected  to  that  office, 
and  Perry  professor  of  mental  and  moral  philosophy  in 
1 88 1.  A  man  who  has  been  and  still  is  so  intimately  con- 
nected with  the  development  of  Congregational  educational 
interests  in  the  state  is  worthy  of  the  more  extended  sketch 
of  his  life  which  we  are  permitted  to  use,  and  it  is  here 
introduced. 

DAVID  BR.'\INERD  PERRY,  D.D. 

"David  Brainerd  Perry,  president  of  Doane  College, 
Crete,  was  born  in  Worcester,  Massachusetts,  March  7, 
1839.  His  ancestors  on  his  father's  side  came  from  England 
to  Massachusetts  at  a  very  early  date,  and  the  old  home- 
stead farm  bordering  on  the  city  of  Worcester  was  for  many 
generations  a  permanent  and  noted  family  possession.  Sam- 
uel Perry,  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  inherited 
the  sturdy  characteristics  of  his  family  and  was  a  thrifty 
farmer.  Possessing  the  respect  and  confidence  of  his  neigh- 
bors to  a  rare  degree,  he  was  an  important  member  of  the 
community  in  which  he  lived  and  a  generous  supporter  of 
religious  and  educational  enterprises  near  and  far.  The  aid 
he  rendered  to  Doane  College  at  an  early  and  critical  period 
in  its  history  was  invaluable.  He  married  Alary  Harring- 
ton, who  in  addition  to  the  care  of  her  own  family  of  ten 
children,  was  an  efficient  and  much  loved  medical  adviser 
for  the  neighborhood. 

"In  his  early  boyhood  Brainerd  Perry  preferred  work  on 
the  farm  to  attendance  at  school.     Perhaps  few  boys  have 


PRESIDENT  D.    B.    PERRY,  D.D. 


DOANI-:   COLLEGE  229 

been  more  fond  oi  an  outdoor,  active  life.  Few  boys  took 
more  interest  in  the  .qreat  anti-slavery  agitation  with  which 
Xew  England  was  at  that  time  all  alive.  As  he  was  too 
young  to  go  in  person  to  Kansas  to  take  part  in  the  struggle 
for  freedom  he  did  the  next  best  thing — he  sent  his  small 
earnings  to  buy  Sharps  rifles.  When  at  the  age  of  seven- 
teen his  life  work  had  been  chosen,  he  gave  himself  with 
intense  purpose  to  making  amends  for  lost  educational  time. 
He  fitted  for  college  in  the  Worcester  high  school,  an  in- 
stitution of  high  grade.  He  vrent  to  college  for  the  purpose 
of  preparation  for  the  Christian  ministry.  His  high  school 
teachers,  who  were  recent  graduates  of  Yale,  did  much  to 
determine  his  choice  of  a  college.  He  entered  Yale  in  1859 
and  graduated  in  1863  with  the  degree  of  A.B.,  taking  sec- 
ond rank  in  scholarship  in  a  class  of  122.  During  his  train- 
ing at  Yale  the  freshman  and  senior  college  societies  were 
in  high  favor,  but  he  carefully  avoided  the  sophomore  so- 
ciety and  used  that  of  the  junior  year  simply  as  a  stepping 
stone  to  the  senior  society.  The  war  for  the  Union  was 
being  fought  out  while  he  was  in  college  and  he  would 
gladly  have  thrown  himself  into  the  conflict,  but  he  was  , 
held  back  by  the  advice  of  friends. 

"Immediately  after  graduation  from  Yale  he  took  one 
year  of  theological  tr-aining  at  Princeton  Seminary,  New 
Jersey.  For  an  interval  during  this  year  he  was  able  to 
give  himself  to  the  service  of  the  Christian  Commission  in 
Virginia  where  he  saw  the  camp-fires  of  the  enemy. 

"He  spent  the  following  year  at  Union  Theological  Sem- 
inary. New  York  city,  and  engaged  in  religious  work  in 
Iowa  during  the  summer  vacation.  He  had  gone  to  An- 
dover,  Massachusetts,  for  a  third  year  in  the  theological 
seminary  at  that  place  when  he  received  an  invitation  from 
President  Woolsey  to  become  a  tutor  in  Yale,  which  led 
him  to  change  his  plans  and  to  take  his  third  seminarv  year 


230  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

in  the  Yale  Divinity  School  during  the  two  years  of  his 
college  tutorship. 

"President  Perry  graduated  from  the  Yale  Divinity 
School  in  1867  with  the  degree  of  S.T.B.  In  the  following 
year  he  went  abroad  and  continued  his  study  and  travel  for 
fourteen  months.  Upon  his  return  he  was  engaged  for 
nearly  two  years  again  as  a  tutor  at  Yale.  At  the  end  of 
his  student  life  his  health,  which  had  always  been  excep- 
tionally good  in  his  college  days,  was  so  much  impaired  that 
he  asked  the  Congregational  Home  Missionary  Society  for 
a  frontier  parish,  where  he  could  have  outdoor  life  and 
breathe  the  high,  dr}^  air  of  the  plains.  Superintendent 
O.  W.  Merrill  assigned  him  to  Hamilton  county,  Nebraska, 
where  he  lived  near  Aurora  from  April  to  September,  1872. 
In  a  short  time  the  north  half  of  Clay  county  was  added 
to  his  parish,  and  he  was  then  in  charge  of  three  little 
churches. 

"Efforts  that  had  been  put  forth  for  some  time  to  estab- 
lish a  Congregational  college  in  the  state  culminated  in 
June  of  this  same  year,  and  Mr.  Perry  was  at  once  urged  to 
take  up  educational  work  in  the  new  institution  soon  to  be 
known  as  Doane  College.  During  his  first  year  of  service 
at  Doane,  1872-73,  he  was  sole  instructor  with  the  title  of 
tutor,  and  was  engaged  in  preparing  a  few  students  to  enter 
a  freshman  class.  Then  he  became  professor  of  Latin  and 
Greek,  and  afterward  successively  senior  professor,  acting 
president,  and,  in  1881,  president.  He  received  from  Yale 
the  degree  of  M.y\.  in  1866,  and  of  D.D.  in  1898. 

"His  sympatliies  have  always  been  with  the  Republican 
party,  but  he  has  taken  no  active  part  in  politics  and  has 
neither  held  nor  sought  public  ofiice.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Crete  Congregational  Club,  the  oldest  organization  of 
its  kind  in  the  state,  and  the  Schoolmasters'  Club,  which 
was  organized  in  1898.     He  was  married  July  3,  1876,  to 


DOANE  COLLEGE  23 1 

Helen  Doane,  and  five  children  were  born  to  them  :  Thomas 
Doane,  born  May  zy,  1877;  Brainerd  Clark,  August  13. 
1879  (died  July  21,  1880)  ;  Charles  Boswell,  January  25, 
1884;  Helen  Clark,  February  17,  1888;  Henry  Eldridge, 
October  8,  1889. 

"If,  contrary  to  expectations,  the  college'educator  speed- 
ily took  the  place  of  the  frontier  home  missionary,  President 
Perr\-  has  never  forgotten  the  missionary  work  that  drew 
him  to  Nebraska,  and  he  has  lost  no  opportunity  to  identify 
himself  with  the  religious  life  of  the  state.  He  has  sought 
to  come  in  close  touch  with  every  phase  of  school  life 
whether  public  or  private.  It  has  seemed  to  him  that  there 
should  be  no  divorce  between  education  and  religion,  but 
that  each  siiould  help  the  other  to  what  is  highest  and  best. 
The  college  of  which  he  has  been  the  head  for  thirty  years 
has  taken  a  high  rank,  and  it  is  his  ambition  that  he  may 
be  a  part  of  its  vitalizing  power  in  the  generations  to  come. 
He  still  fills  the  office  of  president  of  Doane  College  ac- 
ceptably to  all  who  are  concerned  in  its  welfare." 

THE   DELIBERATION    OF   THE   TRUSTEES 

In  this  sketch  we  have  anticipated  somewhat  the  action 
of  the  trustees  of  Doane  College.  They  were  very  careful 
in  making  a  choice  of  president  and  took  time  thoroughly 
to  study  the  question. 

In  1875  the  State  Association  by  resolution^  recommended 
to  the  trustees  that  "as  soon  as  possible  and  expedient  they 
secure  a  suitable  man  to  fill  the  place  of  president  of  the 
institution."'  But  still  they  waited,  it  may  be  to  watch  more 
fully  the  development  of  the  young  head  professor  whom 
they  had  in  mind  and  whom  they  finally  chose. 

The  association  the  same  year  unanimously  recommended 
"to  the  trustees  of  Doane  College  that  they  take  measures 

*  Minutes,  lS7o,  p.  8.  . 


232  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

to  open  at  the  earliest  possible  date  a  training  school  for 
ministers  competent  to  work  among  the  Germans  and  other 
foreign  populations  of  our  country,  and.  to  call  upon  the 
churches  of  our  state  and  such  others  as  may  be  interested 
to  carry  out  the  needful  work/'  and  also  resolved  to  "take 
steps  to  raise  $10,000  to  be  appropriated  to  the  erection  of 
a  permanent  building,  to  be  called  Merrill  Hall,  in  memory 
of  O.  W.  JMerrill,  one  of  the  earliest  and  stanchest  friends 
of  the  enterprise.""  The  churches  of  the  state,  which  at 
that  time,  1875,  numbered  only  seventy-seven  with  a  mem- 
bership of  2,002,  had  no  small  task  before  them — the  i^rose- 
cution  of  missionary  work,  the  building  and  equipping  a 
Christian  college,  and  the  training  of  men  for  service  among 
the  foreigners  in  our  own  state.  How  large  this  foreign 
work  was  we  may  not  fully  realize,  but  the  churches  and 
the  college  as  well  felt  the  imperative  need  of  nnmediate 
action  and  earnest  effort.    Professor  Perry  in  1876  reported  : 

"In  less  than  five  years  in  Nebraska  I  have  met  the  rep- 
resentatives of  sixteen  different  languages.  In  this  number 
I  do  not  include  various  Indian  tribes  of  discordant  tongues, 
nor  the  African,  whose  speech,  like  his  nationality,  has  been 
merged  in  our  own ;  nor  certain  of  American  parentage, 
who  were  born  in  Asia  and  first  learned  to  speak  JMahratta; 
and  I  am  reckoning  respectively  as  one.  Englishman  and 
American,  Hollander  and  Frisian,  Dane  and  Norwegian. 
The  rest  are  Sv^^ede,  German,  Pole,  Bohemian,  Russian. 
French,  Italian,  Portuguese,  Irish,  Scotch,  Hungarian,  and 
Jew.  Within  a  radius  of  twelve  miles  of  Doane  College  I 
can  count  the  representatives  of  more  than  twelve  different 
nationalities."^*' 

We  do  not  wonder  that  in.  1877  the  association  votes 
"especiallv    [to]    welconie   foreigners  and  their  children  to 

'Ibid.,  p.  8. 

*°  Minutes,  1876,  p.  8. 


DOANF.   COLLEGE  233 

the  lialls  ni  the  ccUc.uc;""  and  thai  in  1S71J  it  "Resolved. 
That  we  regard  the  clhirt  lo  found  a  liennan  Theological 
Scniinarv  at  Crete  with  deep  interest,  and  are  glad  to  learn 
that  its  friends  have  succeeded  in  raising  about  $9,000  to- 
wards tlie  endowment,  and  hope  that  success  will  coiUmue 
to  attend  their  effort. "*- 

The  establishment  of  a  ( lermau  deparlnient  in  the  Lhi- 
cago  Theological  Seminary  made  the  organization  and  de- 
velopment of  a  German  Theological  Seminarv  in  Crete  un- 
wise, but  a  '-pro-seminarv"  was  eventually  organized  and 
later  on  moved  to  Wilton.  Iowa,  and  sliil  later  to  Redfield 
College,  South  Dakota,  as  stated  in  a  preceding  chapter. 
.\s  the  "pro-seminary"'  movement  began  in  Crete,  the  Ne- 
braska churches  from  the  first  have  followed  its  develop- 
ment with  deep  interest  and  contributed  to  its  support  at 
the  time  thev  were  seeking  to  build  and  equi]j  Doane  College. 

The  active  interest  of  Congregational  Neln-aska  in  Chris- 
tian education  in  general,  and  in  Doane  College  in  particu- 
lar, was  marked  and  abiding,  and  found  expression  in  the 
meetings  of  the  association  from  year  to  year. 

PRFSIDEXT   perry's  REPORTS 

President  Perrv's  reports  on  Doane  College  were  a  uni(|ue 
feature  in  former  meetings  of  the  association.  They  had 
the  true  ring  in  them,  and  many  of  them  were  classics.  It 
is  a  decided  loss  to  the  association  that  it  does  not  provide 
for  their  continuance.  They  could  follow  the  reports  of 
the  Committee  on  Education,  and  the  churches  would  be  the 
gainer  thereby. 

President  Perry's  utterance  on  religion  in  our  schools 
before  the  Fremont  meeting  in  1878  was  timely  and  strong: 

"Minutes,   1S77,  p.  S. 
'-Minutes.  1879.  p.   13. 


234  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

"There  are  special  hardships  involved  in  legislating  the 
Bible  out  of  the  school.  No  other  place  is  so  treated.  The 
president-elect  of  the  United  States  is  inaugurated  with 
ceremonies  which  culminate  as  he  presses  his  lips  to  the 
sacred  volume ;  halls  of  legislation  have  their  chaplain ;  civil 
tribunals  administer  the  solemn  oath ;  the  lawyer  knows 
that  the  Bible  underlies  Blackstone;  the  general  understands 
that  men  who  carry  the  New  Testament  in  their  vest  pocket 
and  drink  in  its  spirit,  like  CromwelFs  old  Ironsides,  make 
the  best  soldiers.  But  the  great  army  of  boys  and  girls,  a 
mightier  host  than  king  or  emperor  can  marshal,  gathering 
in  every  town  and  school  district,  soon  to  join  the  ranks  of 
those  engaged  in  fighting  the  battle  of  life,  standing  in  need 
of  the  same  sanctions,  warnings,  and  encouragements — 
these  forsooth  in  the  most  plastic  period  of  their  lives  must 
be  far  removed  from  Bible,  oath,  and  chaplain. 

"Even  where  free  thought  has  not  full  sway  religious  in- 
fluences are  greatly  diminished.  It  can  not  be  denied  that 
there  is  a  strong  tendency  toward  the  divorce  of  religion 
and  education  in  oar  public  schools.  How  shall  education 
be  kept  Christian  becomes  an  important  question.  The  bal- 
lot can  not  be  relied  upon,  nor  the  secular  press.  The 
classes  to  be  reached  are  largely  inaccessible  to  preaching. 
The  great  remedy  lies  in  the  Christian  college."^^ 

"We  all  believe  in  the  common  school  system,  but  how 
shall  it  be  kept  Christian?  Maintain  the  Christian  college; 
make  the  Christian  college  a  success,  and  the  light  which 
shines  from  it  will  attract  with  more  than  magic  power. 
From  the  higher  institutions  of  learning  go  forth  the  teach- 
ers who  are  to  shape  and  fashion  the  minds  of  the  young 
people  all  over  our  great  state.  They  who  mould  these 
young  people  determine  the  destinies  of  the  next  genera- 

"  Minutes,   1878,  p.   19. 


CHANCELLOR  E.  B.  FAIRFIELD,  D.D.,  LL.D. 

Cliancellor  of  the  State  University,  prominent  Congregational 
minister  and  author,  formerly  president  of  Hillsdale  College, 
Michigan,  and  lieutenant  governor  of  Michigan. 


236  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

tion.  .  .  It  is  of  the  utmost  importance  that  they  who 
teach  others  should  first  have  been  taught  l)y  the  Great 
Teacher."^'' 

These  strong  words  met  the  hearty  approval  of  the 
churches,  and  it  will  be  noted  that  Congregational  Ne- 
braska, in  most  hearty  accord  with  Christian  education, 
has  a  deep  and  growing  interest  in  the  public  schools  of 
the  state  from  the  primary  school  to  the  State  University. 
It  believes  with  President  Perry  that  we  need  the  Christian 
college  for  the  sake  of  the  better  moral  influence  of  all  these 
schools,  common  school,  high  school,  normal  school,  and 
State  University.  We  need  the  Christian  college  for  what 
it  is,  for  Avhat  it  is  doing  directly  and  indirectly,  for  what 
it  may  do  in  conserving  the  best  interests  of  the  state,  and 
in  counteracting  the  "godless"  influence  which  here  and 
there  seeks  to  control  public  action  in  education  and 
government. 


'Minutes,    1879,   p.   22. 


EDUCATION    IN    TIIK   STATE 


237 


III 


EDUCATION    IN    THE    STATE 


We  shall  find  in  the  endorsements  of  the  State  Associa- 
tion the  general  altitude  of  the  churches  toward  education 
in  the  state. 


IRVING    J.     MANATT,    D.D.,    LL.D. 

The  steady  prog:ress  of  Doane  College  was  a  source  of 
satisfaction.  Merrill  Hall  has  a  companion  in  Gaylord 
Hall,  fittingly  named  after  Reuben  Gaylord,  whose  widow 
expressed   in   substantial  ways  her  sympathy  and  interest. 


238  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

An  observatory  well  adapted  for  practical  use  in  due  time 
appeared ;  a  library  building  was  added  to  the  group ;  debts 
are  paid ;  an  endowment  is  being  planned  for,  and  the  trus- 
tees are  looking  forward  to  a  much  larger  and  better  equip- 
ment. In  all  these  things  the  churches  take  a  profound  in- 
terest and  help  on  in  the  work.  But  they  can  not  forget 
that  they  are  a  part  of  a  great  state;  and  state  interests 
have  their  claim.  How  shall  they  express  themselves  in 
reference  to  these?    What  is  their  relation  thereto? 

At  the  Beatrice  meeting,  1885,  Chancellor  Manatt  of  the 
State  University  presented  a  minute  bearing  on  this  general 
matter,  and  it  was  adopted  by  the  association.  It  is  inter- 
esting in  showing  not  only  the  attitude  of  the  association 
toward  education  in  the  state,  but  is  also  a  good  illustration 
of  some  of  the  problems  with  which  the  state  had  to  deal, 
and  though  somewhat  lengthy  it  is  worthy  of  record  here : 

"I.  The  entire  education  of  the  commonwealth  is  one 
common  interest,  to  be  administered  with  a  single  view  to 
the  highest  intellectual  and  moral  improvement  of  the  whole 
people  and  the  people  as  a  whole. 

'TI.  In  order  to  its  administration  with  economy  and 
effectiveness,  its  promoters  must  act  on  the  principle  of  co- 
operation rather  than  of  competition. 

"HI.  We  recognize  as  constituting  our  system  of  educa- 
tion in  Nebraska:  (a)  the  common  schools  and  the  private 
elementary  schools;  (b)  the  public  schools. and  the  acad- 
emies; (c)  the  University  and  the  chartered  colleges. 

"IV.  (a)  We  believe  that  in  this  system  elementary  edu- 
cation is  for  quantity  abundantly  provided  for,  while  we 
urge  the  importance  of  improving  its  quality  as  a  prepara- 
tion for  life,  and  particularly  as  a  means  of  moral  discipline. 
(b)  We  recognize  as  a  weak  point  in  this  system  the  want 
of  good  secondary  schools.  While  Massachusetts  has  nearly 
300  high   schools   and   academies,   training  30,000  pupils, 


EDUCATION    IN    THE   STATE  239 

from  whose  numbers  five  colleges  are  recruited,  Nebraska 
lias  a  smaller  number  of  genuine  jircparatory  schools  than 
of  colleges.  We  therefore  urge  the  building  up  of  good, 
honest  high  schools  and  academies  throughout  the  state,  at 
carefully  chosen  points,  with  an  ultimate  view  to  providing 
thorough  preparation  for  college,  as  well  as  a  sound  English 
education,  in  at  least  one  place  in  every  county.  (  c)  In  the 
higher  education  we  hold,  that  concentration  is  the  neces- 
sary law.  The  multiplication  of  colleges,  out  of  all  propor- 
tion to  the  provision  for  secondary  and  the  demand  for 
higher  education,  violates  every  principle  of  economy,  and 
tends  inevitably  to  the  degradation  of  college  stamlards  and 
degrees.  The  fact  that  young  Nebraska,  with  but  a  fraction 
of  her  sod  turned  over,  has  now  three  times  as  many  col- 
leges as  old  Connecticut,  nine  times  as  many  as  New  Hamp- 
shire, must  convince  even  the  wayfaring  man  that  it  is  high 
time  to  call  a  halt. 

"V.  In  view  of  these  principles,  it  is  the  sense  of  this  as- 
sociation:  (a)  that  the  founding  of  new  colleges  is  unwise 
and  inexpedient;  (b)  that  those  now  existing  should  be 
supported  on  their  merits;  (c)  that  the  best  interests  of 
education  would  be  promoted  by  such  concert  of  action  on 
the  part  of  the  University  and  the  other  colleges  as  to  secure 
substantial  uniformity  in  standards  and  degrees."^ 

Doubtless  the  association  remembered  its  attitude  and 
vote  at  this  time  when  soon  after  it  was  called  upon  to  de- 
cide whether  it  should  support  a  second  college  in  the  state. 
Nor  are  we  surprised  that  the  next  year,  1886,  Chancellor 
Manatt,  as  visitor  to  the  German  Seminary  at  Crete,  recom- 
mended that  it  should  be  affiliated  with  Doane  College  in 
the  interests  of  economy  and  efficiency,  having  as  much  of 
the  work  as  possible  done  in  the  college,  and  that  the  Com- 

'  Minutes,  1885,  p.  11. 


240  CONGREGATIONAL   NEBRASKA 

niittee  on  Education,  Rev.  Willard  Scott,  D.D.,  chairman, 
to  whom  the  Chancellor's  report  had  been  referred,  recom- 
mended that  the  report  and  suggestions  be  referred  to  a 
committee  consisting  of  President  Perry,  Supt.  George  E. 
Albrecht,  and  Rev.  Wm.  Suess  for  such  action  as  "in  their 
united  judgment  may  seem  best.'' 

The  Committee  on  Education  also  recommended  "that 
a  committee  be  raised  to  consist  of  one  representative  from 
each  of  our  educational  institutions  in  the  state,  to  be  ap- 
pointed by  itself  and  the  Chancellor  of  the  State  University, 
to  consider  the  general  educational  interests  of  our  denomi- 
nation in  Nebraska,  and  to  report  at  the  next  meeting  of  the 
General  Association. "- 


-Minutes,  1SS6,  pp.  12,  18. 


THE    COLLl-X.K    OUKSTION  24I 

IV 
TH1-:  COLLIiGK  QUESTION 

The  General  Association  in  1887  met  in  Lincoln,  and  in 
its  sessions  considered  largely  educational  matters. 

A  new  college  knocked  at  its  doors  for  recognition.  Its 
origin  may  be  briefly  stated.  With  returning  prosperity  in 
1880  the  northern  counties  of  Nebraska  began  to  ask  for  an 
educational  institution,  and  took  steps  to  organize  a  second 
Congregational  college.  The  Columbus  Association  was 
active  in  the  movement.  In  its  annual  meeting,  t88i,  it  de- 
cided to  ask  for  bids  for  the  location  of  "an  institution  of 
academy  or  seminary  grade."  Neligh,  Antelope  county, 
secured  the  institution.  The  articles  of  incorporation  gave 
it  the  name  of 

GATES   COLLEGE^ 

The  institution  was  named  in  memory  of  former  State 
Superintendent  of  Home  Missions,  Rev.  H.  N.  Gates.  The 
college  came  into  legal  existence  September  29,  i88r,  but 
for  the  first  four  years  it  did  only  preparatory  work,  and 
was  recognized  by  the  association  as  doing  academy  work. 
The  association  was  loath  to  recognize  a  second  college, 
and  in  1885,  as  we  have  seen,  deemed  the  "founding  of  new 
colleges  as  unwise  and  inexpedient,"  and  in  1886  a  commit- 
tee, formed  of  representatives  from  the.  educational  institu- 
tions and  local  associations,  together  with  the  Chancellor 
of  the  State  University,  in  accordance  with  the  instruction 
of  the  association,  took  the  whole  matter  under  advisement 

'For  further  account  see  Education  in  Ncl'raska,  pp.  2,19-2G.     Our 
object  is  only  to  show  the  organization  and  place  of  Gates  College 
in  the  development  of  Congregationalism  in  the  state. 
16 


242  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

and  presented  a  lengthy  and  in  part  divisive  report  before 
the  association  in  Lincohi  in  1887.  This  report  was  favor- 
able to  the  academies,  recommending  the  endowment  of 
those  already  existing,  and  the  planting  and  endowment  of 
others  "in  wisely  selected  locations  throughout  the  state" ; 
it  endorsed  the  German  Theological  Seminary  at  Crete. 
But  on  the  number  of  colleges  to  be  encouraged  the  report 
was  divisive.  A  part  of  the  committee  consisting  of  H. 
Bross,  Geo.  E.  Taylor,  Wm.  Suess,  A.  V.  Rice,  John 
Schaerer,  and  G.  A.  Gregory  reported  in  favor  of  endorsing 
Gates  College  as  a  college,  but  deprecated  "the  further  in- 
crease of  the  number  in  the  state."  The  other  members,  con- 
sisting of  W.  P.  Bennett,  D.  B.  Perry,  Willard  Scott,  George 
Hindley,  C.  PI.  Dye,  Irving  J.  Manatt,  and  J.  B.  Parmalee, 
reported  to  recognize  and  endorse  Gates  College  as  a  useful 
preparatory  institution.  "But  it  is  the  sense  of  this  commit- 
tee that  its  highest  usefulness  and  the  interest  of  our  gen- 
eral educational  work  in  the  state  will  be  best  served  by 
limiting  its  work  in  the  main  to  its  preparatory  department."^ 

On  the  program  of  this  meeting  of  the  General  Associa- 
tion we  find  such  questions  as  these :  "The  need  for  a  col- 
lege in  northern  Nebraska,"  Prof.  R.  A.  Harper  of  Gates 
College ;  "One  college  or  two,"  Dr.  Willard  Scott.  It  is 
easy  to  conjecture  that  the  interest  in  the  general  question 
was  intense  and  growing. 

The  following  years  committees  were  appointed  to  visit, 
and  reports  were  received  from  both  Doane  and  Gates  col- 
leges, but  it  does  not  appear  that  there  was  any  particular 
discussion  of  the  college  question  until  1 891  at  the  Fremont 
meeting,  when  the  recognition  of  Gates  College  was  given 
a  special  place  on  the  program  of  the  association,  and  the 
issue  was  squarely  met  in  the  discussion  of  the  question. 

'Minutes,  1887,  pp.  39-41. 


THK    COLLEGE    QUESTION  243 

"Resolved,  That  the  association  endorse  Gates  Colle£j:e  as 
a  Congregational  college." 

Before  the  vote  on  the  ([uestion  "it  was  voted  that,  imme- 
diately upon  announcement  of  the  vote,  the  congregation 
rise  and  sing  the  doxology,  'Praise  God  from  whom  all 
hlessings  flow'  " !  "The  resolution  was  defeated  by  a  vote 
of  107  to  124."  And  "upon  the  announcement  of  the  vote 
the  members  arose  and  united  in  singing  the  doxology." 

Dr.  T.  T.  Dnr\ea  of  Omaha  then  introduced  the  follow- 
ing resolution,  which  was  adopted : 

"Resolved,  That  the  association  advise  the  trustees  of 
Gates  College  to  direct  their  efforts  for  the  present  to  the 
development  of  the  preparatory  department,  extending  its 
course  as  far  as  the  end  of  the  sophomore  year,  and  in  case 
thev  decide  to  adopt  this  advice,  that  they  be  commended 
to  the  churches  for  aid."" 

But  the  college  question  was  by  no  means  settled.  It 
assumed  the  form  of  a  relocation  of  the  Congregational 
college  and  a  union  of  Doane  and  Gates.  Dr.  Duryea  of- 
fered the  following,  wdiich  was  unanimously  adopted : 

"Whereas,  In  the  course  of  the  discussion  of  the  endorse- 
ment of  Gates  College  it  was  suggested  that  there  might  be 
a  union  effected  between  Doane  College  and  Gates  College ; 

"Resolved,  That  the  whole  matter  of  the  policy  of  the 
churches  of  Nebraska  in  respect  to  its  educational  institu- 
tions be  referred  to  a  commission  of  nine  members,  select- 
ing one  from  each  local  association,  which  shall  report  at 
the  next  meeting  of  the  State  Association."* 

The  Omaha  meeting  of  1892  will  long  be  remembered 
for  the  discussion  on  the  report  of  the  educational  commis- 

=  Minutes,    1891,   pp.    12-14. 
*  Minutes,  1891,  pp.   15,  16. 


244  CONGREGATIONAL   NEBRASKA 

sion.  The  question  of  the  proposed  consohdation  of  the 
colleges  was  before  the  meeting'.  The  excitement  was  in- 
tense, the  discussion  spirited,  the  appeals  from  the  floor 
confusing  to  both  moderator  and  people,  and  the  confusion 
at  times  distracting.  It  is  said  that  the  devotional  service 
which  came  in  the  midst  of  the  heated  discussion,  and  was 
led  by  Dr.  S.  Wright  Butler,  subdued  the  feeling,  brought 
the  members  into  a  more  normal  condition  of  mind  and 
heart,  and  made  possible  a  course  of  action  which  was  cred- 
itable to  the  association  if  not  acceptable  to  all.  The  result 
was  the  creation  of  a  new  educational  commission,  consist- 
ing of  Rev.  A.  A.  Cressman,  A.  G.  McGrew,  M.D.,  Rev. 

F.  C.  Cochran,  O.  W.  Ne'edham,  Rev.  T.  W.  De  Long,  F.  P. 
Wigton,  Rev.  Geo.  S.  Biscoe,  V.  S.  Abraham,  Rev.  William 
Fritzemeier,  John  Asmus,  Rev.  L.  Gregory,  C.  M.  Root, 
Rev.  F.  L.  Ferguson,  Rev.  G.  J.  Powell,  Rev.  W.  H.  Buss, 
William  Fleming,  Rev.  George  E.  Taylor,  and  Prof.  A.  C. 
Hart,  "whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  incorporate  themselves  into 
a  board  of  trustees  of  one  union  Congregational  college  in 
Nebraska,  as  soon  as  they  are  definitely  assured  by  the 
official  boards  of  Doane  and  Gates  colleges  that  all  trans- 
ferable assets  of  said  institutions  will  be  transferred  to  the 
new  corporation,  whose  duty  then  shall  be  to  take  all  possible 
action  looking  toward  such  consolidation,  receive  bids  of 
donations,  and  report  at  the  next  annual  meeting  of  the 
association."^    This  commission  through  its  chairman.  Rev. 

G.  J.  Powell,  reported  the  following  year — Beatrice,  1893 — 
that  "it  was  found  impossible  to  accomplish  anything  in 
accordance  with  the  resolution  under  which  the  commission 
was  appointed."*'  Doane  College  did  not  see  its  way  clear 
to  surrender  its  charter  and  turn  over  its  assets,  amounting 


\Minutes,  1892,  pp.   10-16. 
'Minutes,  1893,  p.  47. 


THE    COLLEGE    QUESTION  245 

then  to  $200,000,  to  a  new  corporation,  although  Gates  was 
favorable  to  the  proposition." 

This  ended  the  eft'orts  to  consolidate  the  two  institutions. 
Other  causes  were  operating  to  bring  about  an  end  to  the 
controversy. 

"In  1895  the  trustees  of  Gates  College,  confronted  with 
a  grave  financial  deficit,  voted  to  remove  the  college  from 
Neligh  to  Norfolk,  at  which  place  they  were  promised  a 
constderablc  eift  in  lands  and  moneys.  To  prevent  this 
action  the  citi^zens  of  Neligh,  including  several  trustees,  in- 
voked the  aid  of  the  courts.  But  the  major  part  of  the 
trustees,  the  president  and  part  of  the  faculty,  resigned  and 
threw  their  support  to  a  new  institution  at  Norfolk,  which 
they  christened  Norfolk  College.  The  result  was  not  the 
removal  of  Gates  College,  but  the  founding  of  a  third  col- 
lege in  competition  with  it.  For  about  three  years  this 
division  of  forces  continued.  In  1898,  in  deference  to  the 
findings  of  a  "committee  of  investigation"  of  representative 
Congregational  clergymen  from  Iowa,  Minnesota,  Missouri, 
and'^Cotorado,  the  institution  at  Norfolk  closed  its  work, 
leaving  the  field  to  Gates  College ;  but  the  long  controversy 
had  so  far  weakened  its  strength  that  Gates  College  was 
unable  to  maintain  its  position ;  and  in  the  spring  of  1899 
it  resigned  its  college  charter  and  became  an  academy."^^ 

The  years  of  controversy  were  unfortunate;  they  hin- 
dered the  real  advance  of  educational  work  in  the  state. 
A  divisive  question  unsettled  the  people,  caused  some  to 
lose  interest  in  Doane  College,  and  prevented  the  college 
from  doing  its  best  work,  because  of  meager  equipment, 
at  a  time  when  it  should  have  had  the  individual  support 
of  all  the  churches,  and  yet  during  all  this  time  Doane  was 
overcoming  great  difficulties,  was  doing  splendid  work,  was 

'Minutes,  1893,  pp.  46,  47. 
"Education  in  Nebraska,  p.  223. 


246  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

slowly  increasing  its  assets,  and  paying  its  debts.  It  was 
securing  an  accredited  standing  among  the  colleges  of  the 
land,  and  the  high  merit  of  its  work  was  recognized  by  the 
State  University. 

Members  of  the  faculty,  for  the  good  work  which  they 
did,  were  called  to  other  institutions — Prof.  F.  L.  Kendall 
to  Williams  College ;  Prof.  A.  B.  Show  to  Leland  Stanford 
Junior  University ;  Prof.  G.  D.  Swezey  to  the  University  of 
Nebraska." 

When  Professor  Perry  became  President  Perry  in  1881, 
Doane  College  reported  the  following  professorships :  men- 
tal and  moral  philosophy,  D.  B.  Perry ;  mathematics,  Arthur 
B.  Fairchild;  natural  sciences,  Goodwin  D.  Swezey.  And 
a  year  later  there  were  added  to  these,  chemistry,  John  S. 
Brown ;  German  and  French,  Francis  L.  Kendall ;  Greek, 
Howard  F.  Doane.  Besides  these  there  were  several  in- 
structors, but  the  college  had  not  reached  the  eight  full 
professorships  which  now  are  deemed  necessary  to  secure 
recognition  as  a  high  grade  college  of  front  rank. 

It,  however,  was  making  progress  year  by  year,  and  the 
catalogue  of  1904  gives  a  corps  of  professors  and  instructors 
of  whom  it  is  justly  proud,  men  whose  magnificent  work 
would  be  even  better  if  Doane  College  had  the  larger  and 
better  material  equipment  which  it  is  now  seeking  to  secure, 
and  which  its  growing  number  of  students  demands. 

The  following  is  the  register  of  1904: 

DOANE    COLLEGE,     I904-5 

Faculty  and  Instructors. — Rev.  David  Brainerd  Perry, 
D.D.  (Yale),  President,  Perry  professor  of  mental  philoso- 
phy and  history;  Arthur  Babbitt  Fairchild,  A.B.  (Berea), 
David  Whitcomb  professor  of  economics  and  ethics ;  John 

'Historical  Glimpses,  p.  30. 


THE    COLLEGE    QUESTION  247 

Sewall  Rrown,  A.M.  (Bates),  principal  of  academy  and 
professor  of  ancient  languages ;  Howard  Freeman  Doane, 
A.B.  (Harvard),  Boswell  professor  of  Greek  and  Latin; 
Margaret  Eleanor  Thompson,  S.B.  (Doane),  A.M.  (Uni- 
versity of  Nebraska),  professor  of  English  literature  and 
instructor  in  history  of  art;  William  Everett  Jillson,  A.M. 
(Brown),  professor  of  German  and  French  and  instructor 
in  elocution;  Henry  Hallock  Hosford,  A.M.  (Western  Re- 
serve), professor  of  chemistry  and  instructor  in  physics  and 
astronomy;  Joseph  Horace  Powers,  S.B.  (University  of 
Wisconsin),  Ph.D.  (Gottingen),  Crete  professor  of  biology; 
John  Newton  Bennett,  A.B.  (Doane),  A.M.  (University  of 
Nebraska),  professor  of  mathematics  and  assistant  principal 
of  academy;  Hiram  Gillespie,  A.B.  (University  of  (Chi- 
cago), A.M.  (Yale),  acting  professor  of  Greek  and  Latin; 
Mildred  Ethel  Vance,  A.B.  (Doane),  principal  of  women's 
department  and  instructor  in  history  and  physical  training; 
Laura  Hulda  Wild,  A.B.  (Smith),  instructor  in  Biblical 
literature ;  Walter  Guernsey  Reynolds,  diploma  from  Mans- 
field (Pennsylvania)  State  Normal  Conservatofy  of  Music, 
private  pupil  of  M.  Guilmant  and  Madame  de  Picciotto, 
Paris,  musical  director,  singing,  pianoforte,  organ,  theory ; 
Jennie  Chamberlain  Hosford  (Mrs.),  A.B.  (Smith),  piano- 
forte; Robert  Lithgow  Dick,  S.B.  (Doane),  private  pupil 
of  ^Nliss  Silence  Dales  and  Gustav  Menzendorf,  violin  and 
harmony;  Sadie  Davis  Reynolds  (Mrs.),  S.B.  (Lawrence 
University),  instructor  in  art;  John  William  Fuhrer,  phys- 
ical director  for  men  ;  Oscar  Tretonious  Swanson,  instructor 
in  bookkeeping ;  George  Roger  La  Rue,  teacher  of  biology ; 
Perry  Clayton  Swift,  teacher  of  stenography  ;  George  Joshua 
Taylor,  teacher  of  mathematics ;  Flora  May  Waldorf, 
teacher  of  physics ;  Henry  William  Wendland,  teacher  of 
mathematics. 


248  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

Officers. — Hiram  Gillespie,  registrar ;  Joseph  Horace 
Powers,  secretary  of  faculty;  William  Everett  Jillson, 
librarian:  Mrs.  Eliza  ?\Iargaret  Boeline,  matron. 

Committee  on  Scholarship  Funds. — David  Brainerd 
Perry,  John  Sewall  Brown,  Arthur  Babbitt  Fairchild. 
-  Student  Assistants. — William  Everett  Jillson,  Jr.,  as- 
sistant in  Whitin  Library ;  Genevieve  Krainek,  assistant  in 
Whitin  Library ;  George  Roger  La  Rue,  weather  bureau 
observer  in  charge  of  Boswell  Observatory ;  Arthur  Walton 
Medlar,  assistant  in  treasurer's  office ;  Alonzo  Loudon 
Moon,  assistant  in  Whitin  Library ;  Ernest  CliiTord  Potts, 
assistant  in  Whitin  Library. 

Congregational  Nebraska  in  its  educational  work  now 
concentrates  its  effort  to  the  upbuilding  of  Doane  College 
and  the  five  academies  which  enter  into  its  unique  educa- 
tional system — Crete,  Franklin,  Chadron,  Gates,  and  Weep- 
ing Water;  but  it  takes  a  profound  interest  in  the  public 
schools  of  the  state,  in  its  normal  schools  and  State  Uni- 
versity, and  rejoices  in  the  Christian  men  and  women  called 
to  service  in  these  institutions.  It  would  gladly  see  the 
whole  state  Christian  in  the  highest  and  best  sense  of  the 
term. 

The  present  attitude  of  the  churches  to  the  educational 
work  in  the  state  is  expressed  in  the  report  of  the  Commit- 
tee on  Education  at  the  Hastings  meeting  of  the  association 
in  1900.  The  report  was  presented  by  the  writer  as  chair- 
man, was  unanimously  adopted,  and  is  in  part  as  follows : 

"Your  Committee  on  Christian  Education  desires  in  the 
beginning  to  express  its  belief  in  the  great  need  of  a  clear 
understanding  of  what  is  involved  in  the  use  of  the  term 
'Christian  education.' 

"j.  It  does  not  believe  that  the  term  has  reference  simply 
to  an  education  received  in  a  denominational  or  church 
school  which  may  or  may  not  be  Christian. 


THE    COLLEGE    QUESTION  249 

"2.  It  does  not  believe  that  the  term  necessarily  rules  out 
an  education  which  is  received  in  our  ])ublic  schools,  some 
of  which  are  decidedly  Christian  in  their  influence,  while 
others  may  be  far  from  it. 

"3.  X'either  does  your  committee  believe  that  Christian 
education  is  all  summed  up  in  the  chapel  exercises,  reading 
the  Bible  in  school,  and  in  devotional  services  of  various 
kinds,  valuable  and  helpful  as  these  are  in  the  development 
of  Christian  character.  Indeed,  these  may  be  so  conducted 
as  to  narrow  rather  ihan  to  enlarge  the  student's  spiritual 
range  of  vision  and  limit  the  field  of  his  spiritual  activities. 

"4.  Your  committee  does  believe  that  Christian  education 
brings  into  harmonious  relations  and  adjustment  scientific 
an(,l  philosophical  truth  and  the  teachings  of  the  Gospel  of 
Christ. 

"(i)  It  is  just  as  easy  to  create  a  sect  in  scientific  or 
philosophical  teachings  as  it  is  in  religious  instruction. 
Christian  education  avoids  both,  but  ever  seeks  to  discover 
the  truth,  and  then  show  that  truth  is  not  inconsistent  with 
itself,  but  in  the  ultimate  analysis  is  in  perfect  harmony  in 
all. its  relations. 

■''(2)  Christian  education  goes"  still  further  and  empha- 
sizes the  personal  relation  of  Him  who  is  the  embodiment 
and  incarnation  of  truth  with  and  to  the  individuals,  so  that 
the  feeling  of  personal  responsibility  and  accountability  is 
established  and  maintained,  and  human  conduct  regulated 
by  the  teachings  of  the  Scriptures. 

"(3)  It  is  evident,  then,  that  the  determining  agent  in 
making  evident  the  character  of  a  school  is  the  teaeher  him- 
self. Are  the  teachers  in  our  schools  men  and  women  of 
broad  culture,  sterling  integrity  of  character,  possessed  of 
the  true  Christian  spirit,  who  have  the  ability  to  show  that 
the  truths  which  they  are  called  to  teach  harmonize  with 
the  religion  whose  center  and  life  is  Christ  himself,  who 


250  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

comes  into  personal  relation  to  those  whose  eyes  and  hearts 
are  opened  to  the  reception  of  all  truth  as  it  is  made  known 
to  them?  With  rare  exceptions  we  believe  they  are.  We 
also  believe  that  the  greatest  care  should  be  exercised  in 
the  selection  of  such  teachers. 

"5.  Your  committee  still  further  believes  that  in  estab- 
lishing and  maintaining  the  Christian  school  and  academy 
the  location  should  be  such  as  to  make  imperative  the  de- 
mand for  the  Christian  school  in  that  place. 

"(i)  What  are  the  elements  which  enter  into  this  de- 
mand? (a)  The  inefficiency  of  the  public  schools  to  do  the 
necessary  work,  due  to  a  lack  of  equipment,  mental,  nioral, 
and  material,  (b)  The  failure  of  the  public  schools  to 
maintain  Christian  instruction  in  accordance  with  the  above 
interpretation.  (c)  Inability  on  the  part  of  the  public 
schools  to  afford  thorough  preparation  for  our  colleges  or 
universities  should  be  deemed  sufficient  reason  for  the  es- 
tablishment of  a  first-class  secondary  school  in  the  destitute 
region. 

"6.  Your  committee  is  also  convinced  that  the  determi- 
nation to  maintain,  for  the  present  at  least,  only  one  denom- 
inational college  in  the  state  is  eminently  wise,  and  that 
earnest  efforts  should  be  made  to  increase  the  endowment 
and  enlarge  the  field  of  operation  of  that  institution  which 
is  already  the  pride  of  the  state  and  whose  superior  work  is 
its  best  recommendation  to  the  citizens  of  Nebraska,  viz., 
Doane  College  of  Crete.  Doane  College  and  Academy  are 
seeking  to  afford  opportunities  for  the  best  instruction  in 
college  work,  and,  through  the  application  of  modern  meth- 
ods, to  bring  out  the  best  thought  of  the  student  in  the  de- 
velopment of  the  symmetrical  education,  which  is  not  only 
literary,  scientific,  and  philosophical,  but  decidedly  Christian. 
Through  personal  visitation  and  examination  of  w^ork  done, 
your  committee  is  assured  that  Doane  College  has  an  able 


THE    COLLEGE    QUESTION  25 1 

faculty  whose  instruction  is  limited  only  by  the  equipment 
of  the  institution,  and  that  the  enlargement  of  its  work  must 
be  preceded  by  the  enlargement  of  its  endowment.  In  a 
commonwealth  whose  State  University  has  entering  into  it 
such  a  large  measure  of  Christian  influence  as  we  are  glad 
to  see  in  our  state  university,  a  denominational  college,  to 
hold  its  own  in  educational  competition,  must  be  able  to 
give  the  very  best  service  in  laboratory  and  class  room,  to- 
gether with  a  personal  influence  which  may  be  lacking  in 
the  larger  imiversities.  It  is  right  here  that  the  small  college 
has  a  distinct  and  unique  field  oTF  usefulness.  It  is  not  so 
much  that  the  student  in  the  large  university  does  not  come 
into  ]:)ersonal  contact  with  the  head  professors  as  it  is  that 
he  is  liable,  in  the  course  of  his  university  life,  to  come  under 
the  influence  of  some  one  or  more  teachers  of  agnostic  trend 
of  thought  who  unsettle  the  Christian  belief  of  those  whom 
they  may  influence.  In  this  respect  the  Christian  college 
holds  a  preeminent  position  of  influence  for  good,  as  it  is 
the  business  and  aim  of  its  trustees  to  keep  in  its  faculties 
only  men  of  positive  Christian  faith  as  well  as  of  sound 
learning  with  ability  to  teach.  It  is  not  always  easy  to  do 
this  in  a  state  institution  where  political  and  other  reasons 
may  influence,  to  a  greater  or  less  degree,  the  action  of  its 
regents.  But  in  all  these  institutions  their  influence  will  be 
determined  by  the  character  of  the  teachers  and  the  spirit 
of  the  student  body  which  is  in  part  determined  by  the  gen- 
eral influence  of  the  faculties. 

"The  demand,  then,  for  a  Christian  college  of  broad  cul- 
ture, large  equipment,  modern  methods  of  instruction,  pos- 
itive Christian  character,  where  students  of  small  means 
may  receive  the  very  best  instruction  at  moderate  cbst,  will 
continue  and  grow  m.ore  imperative  with  passing  years. 
We  believe  that  Doane  College  has  such  possibilities,  and 
that  it  is  for  the  Congregationalists  of  Nebraska  to  say  how 


252  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

largely  these  possibilities  shall  be  realized.  In  order  to 
realize  them,  Doane  College  must  have  a  material  equipment 
second  to  no  college  in  the  West. 

"7.  It  is  not  the  aim  of  this  report  to  enter  largely  into 
the  individual  needs  of  our  different  institutions.  These  are 
presented  in  the  special  printed  and  other  reports  at  hand. 
Nor  is  it  in  the  province  of  this  committee  tO'  apply  the  prin- 
ciples of  Christian  education  to  these  different  institutions. 
They  are  applying  them  themselves,  and  are  their  own  best 
exponents  of  their  right  to  be  and  their  right  to  ask  a  gen- 
erous support.  But  your  committee  does  feel  convinced 
that,  if  these  institutions  of  Christian  learning  are  to  have 
a  healthful,  vigorous  development  it  must  be  through  the 
generosity  of  Congregationalists  in  Nebraska.  One  college 
and  five  academies  looking  for  financial  support  and  for  stu- 
dents among  two  hundred  churches,  a  large  number  of 
which  are  on  the  home  missionary  list,  is  a  heroic  test  of 
faith!  It  is  not  to  be  wondered  at  that  these  institutions 
aft'ord  examples  of  painful  self-sacrifice  and  self-denial. 

'Tt  is  evident  that  the  growth  of  these  institutions  will 
depend  largely  upon  the  growth  of  Congregationalism  in 
the  state.  The  enlargement  of  the  work  of  our  Home  Mis- 
sionary Society  will  enlarge  the  foundation  for  their  greater 
pro.sperity. 

''The  growth  of  our  churches  must  precede  the  growth  of 
our  educational  institutions,  or  churches  and  institutions 
will  enter  upon  a  period  of  arrested  development.  'The  de- 
nomination which  educates'  is  the  denomination  which  evan- 
gelizes that  it  may  educate.  The  churches  must  be  the  base 
of  our  educational  pyramid  and  furnish  the  power  which 
generates  the  light  streaming  from  its  apex  through  college 
and  academy,  a  light  to  the  world,  or  that  light  will  be  flick- 
ering and  uncertain,  and  leave  us  in  total  darkness  when 
electrical  storms  of  agnosticism,  infidelity,  and  pessimism 


THE    COLLEGE    QUESTION  253 

are  upon  us.  For  the  sake  of  Christian  education  in  Ne- 
braska, increase  the  Congregational  forces  in  the  state. 
And,  for  the  sake  of  an  enhghtened  Congregationalism, 
enlarge  the  equipment  and  increase  the  efficiency  of  our 
Christian  institutions  of  learningf. 

"M.  A.  Bullock, 
"L.  A.  Turner, 
"J.  H.  Beitel, 
"Committee  on  Educaiioii."'^^ 


'"iviHuites,    1900,   pp.    50-54. 


254  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

V 

CONGREGATIONAL    ACADEMIES    IN     NEBRASKA 

At  the  request  of  the  writer  the  Rev.  G.  W.  Mitchell,  for 
ten  years  pastor  at  Franklin,  chairman  of  "The  Academy 
Endowment  Fund,"  prepared  the  following  statement  of 
the  academies  which  enter  into  our  educational  system.  As 
Mr.  Mitchell  is  thoroughly  acquainted  with  the  work  and 
needs  of  the  academies,  no  one  is  better  qualified  than  is 
he  to  give  this  brief  resume  of  the  Congregational  acad- 
emies in  Nebraska : 

"Doane  College  is  the  center  of  a  Congregational  educa- 
tional system  in  Nebraska  that  has,  in  addition  to  Crete 
Academy,  its  ov/n  preparatory  department,  four  outside 
academies,  which  stand  to  it  in  the  relation  of  feeders, 
though  there  is  no  organic  connection. 

"These  academies  are  at  Chadron,  in  the  far  northwest 
corner  of  the  state,  at  Franklin,  in  the  southwest,  at  Neligh 
(Gates  Academy),  in  the  northeast,  and  Weeping  Water  in 
the  southeast.  The  total  student  enrolment  in  this  system, 
in  the  year  1903-4,  vvas  768,  of  whom  555  were  in  the 
four  'corner'  academies. 

"Franklin  and  Gates  academies  were  established  in  1881, 
soon  after  the  homesteaders  settled  the  new  country.  At 
Franklin,  in  1880,  four  or  five  men,  members  of  the  little 
home  missionary  Congregational  church,  used  to  gather  fre- 
quently at  the  home  of  one  or  another  of  them,  and  talk 
and  plan  and  pray  for  their  children  and  the  welfare  of  the 
new  country.  They  agreed  at  last  that  a  Christian  academy 
would  be  the  best  contribution  they  could  make  to  the  new 
region  in  which  they  had  located. 


256  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

"This  mutatis  mutandis  might  be  stated  as  the  origin  and 
motive  of  each  of  the  other  three  academies.  Frankhn 
Academy  has  three  good  buildings  set  in  a  campus  of  ten 
acres  with  an  athletic  field  of  five  acres  adjoining.  The 
first  principal  was  Rev.  W.  S.  Hampton,  who  for  five  years 
did  a  splendid  work  in  organizing  and  laying  foundations. 
Prof.  Alexis  C.  Hart,  principal  since  1888,  the  Nestor  among 
academy  people  in  Nebraska,  has  made  Franklin  Academy 
the  foremost  Christian  academy  in  the  West. 

"Gates  Academy,  the  predecessor  and  successor  of  Gates 
College,  at  Neligh,  was  opened  in  Septem-ber,  1882.  In 
1886  college  work  was  begun;  in  1899  the  college  charter 
was  given  up,  and  the  institution  continued  as  an  academy. 
It  has  two  substantial  brick  buildings,  a  library  of  5,000 
volumes,  well  equipped  laboratories,  and  in  1903-4  enrolled 
171  students. 

"Weeping  Water  Academy  was  started  in  1885  in  the 
hearts  of  a  few  Christian  people  who  wanted  their  own 
boys  and  girls  to  prepare  for  college.  The  students  have 
come  from  many  counties  in  southeast  Nebraska,  and  an 
unusually  large  per  cent  of  them  have  gone  on  to  college. 
Its  home  has  been  the  old  church  meeting-house.  The  first 
new  permanent  building,  Hindley  Cottage,  a  dormitory  for 
young  women,  is  now  completed  at  a  cost  of  $9,000. 

"Chadron  Academy  was  established  in  1888.  In  1890  a 
fine  brick  building  was  erected  which,  two  years  later,  was 
totallv  destroyed  by  fire.  School  continued  without  a  day's 
delav,  and  a  new  brick  building  was  soon  erected.  Cha.dron 
Academy  has  a  contributory  territory  of  not  less  than  35,- 
000  square  miles,  a  region  of  vast  cattle  ranges,  isolated 
ranch  homes,  and  scattered  farms.  It  is  just  the  place  for 
a  Christian  academy,  and  has  well  fulfilled  the  ideal  and 
purpose  of  its  founders. 


GATES    ACADEMY,    NELIGH,    NEBRASKA 
1     Ciirls'  durmitory.     2^Main  building.      3-  Laboratory, 


17 


258  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

"Not  less  than  5,000  different  students  have  attended 
these  four  academies,  about  500  of  whom  have  completed 
the  full  three-years  courses,  and  400  of  them  prepared  for 
college. 

"January  i,  1902,  a  committee  of  five  was  organized  to 
help  the  academies  secure  funds  to  pay  off  all  debts,  pro- 
vide for  current  expenses,  and  raise  a  permanent  endow- 
ment fund  of  $100,000.  June  30,  1904,  the  committee 
reported : 

Cash  received $58,300  00 

Pledges  still  unpaid 5)i7o  00 

Making  a  total  of $63,470  00 

"The  cash  received,  $58,300,  was  enough  to  pay  all  ex- 
penses of  the  four  academies  for  the  two  and  one-half  years, 
covered  by  the  canvass,  and  leave  a  surplus  of  about  $13,000 
for  debts,  endowments,  and  new  buildings,  besides  the 
$5,000  of  pledges  still  unpaid." 


A  C(i.Ml'AUA'l"i\  !•:  STLDV  259 

VI 

A  t'O-MrAKAllN'li  STUDY 

The  (iiR'slion  is  soiuctimcs  asked,  Would  it  iiol  l)e  better 
to  have  all  (Uir  Congregational  scliools  loeated  in  one  place? 
Would  we  not  administer  the  schools  for  less  money,  and 
reach  just  as  many  students? 

The  M.  E.  Church  in  Xebraska,  which  numbers  some 
55,000  members  to  our  i(t,ooo,  has  all  its  educational  work 
centered  in  one  institution,  the  Nebraska  Wesleyan  Univcr- 
sit\  at  Cniversity  i'lace.  This  gives  a  good  opportunity  to 
compare  tlu^  two  systems.  Naturally  we  should  expect  a 
nnich  larger  number  pf  students  in  th.c  Afethodist  institu- 
tion because  the  Methodist  membership  in  the  state  is  more 
than  three  times  as  large  as  the  Congregational.  The  fol- 
lowing study  will  be  of  interest : 

Students  graduating  in  1904  from — 
\Veeping  W'ater  academy 

( 1 )  In  college  ])reparator}'. 7 

(2)  Commercial    

(3)  Music   

Gates  Academy 

( 1 )  In  college  preparatory 5 

(2)  Commercial    

(3)  Music   

Chadron  Academy 

( 1 )  In  college  preparatory 4 

(2)  Commercial    9 

'(3)  Normal    2 

(4)  Music   


]\IAIN  BUir.DING  WEEPING   ^\'ATER  ACADEMY,   WEEPING   WATER 
Old  First  Congregational  Church 


U/1COL/1   /lE& 


?IINDLEY    COTTAGE,    WEEPING    WATER    ACADEMY 


A  COM  I'ARAIlNi:  STTDV  261 

I'rankliii  Ai-;i(k'im- 

(  1  )    In  college  prei)riiMlory   8 

(2 )  Commercial    4 

(3)  Music   12 

Crete  Academy 

(  I )    In  college  preparatory 10 

Total  ])reparatory  graduates  from  academies 34 

Number  normal  graduates 2 

Total 36 

Preparatory  graduates   Xebraska  W'esleyan   ITniversitv — 

Academy    16 

Normal    z^ij 

^  lusic    : 3 

The  normal  students  in  W'esleyan  University  have  from 
two  to  three  years'  work  in  college  courses,   so  that  they 
can  hardly  be   classed  as   academ_\-   pre])aratory   or   college 
students.     They  are  normal  students. 
Number  of  students  graduating  from  Doane  college  in 

1904   ly 

X umber  of  Doane  alumni 2i(j 

Xumber  graduating  from  W'esleyan  Cni\ersity  in  1904..    16 
Number  of  A\'esleyan  alumni 203 

College  preparatory  students  in — 

Weeping  Water  Academy 37 

Gates  .\cademy 3:^ 

Chadron  Academy    28 

Franklin  Academy uji 

Crete  Academy   c^- 

Total    in   Congregational    schools 206 

College    preparatory    students    in    X'ebraska    \\'cslevan 
Universitv   186 


A  (OMrAKATlVE  STUDY  263 

Ky  college  preparatory   we  mean  those  who,  upon  orad- 
uation,  are  entitled  to  enter  the  eollege  or  university. 

luirolment  in — 

Weeping  Water  Academy 69 

Gates  Academy ^7^ 

Chadron  Academy   • H9 

Franklin  Academy    ^o^ 

Doane  College  and  Crete  Academy 180 

Total  number  students  in  Congregational  schools. 750 

Students   in   Nebraska  W'esleyan   University    in   all   de- 
partments including  summer  school 803 

Total  number  for  school  year 7^0 

Total  expenses  oi  schools  for  1903--4— 

Weeping  Water  Academy  $  3-239  00 

Gates  Academy    3-586  00 

Chadron  Academy 4,800  00 

Franklin  Academy 7.150  00 

Doane  College  and  Crete  Academy 21.850  00 

Total  for  Congregational  schools $40,625  00 

Nebraska  Wesleyan  University $33464  H 

This  enumeration  does  not  include  moneys  for  new  budd- 
ings, which  should  be  classified  as  special,  and  will  vary 
from  time  to  time  in  each  institution. 

Wesle\an  spent  last  year  for  conservatory  of  music 
$10,261.97;  for  greenhouse,  gymnasium,  etc.,  $2518.71. 

Weeping  Water  spent  for  new  building,  a  dormitory  for 
girls,  $9,000. 


264  CONGREGATION AI,   NEBRASKA 

Total  luunber  of  teachers  employed  jn — 

Weeping  Water  Academy 5 

Gates  Academy 5 

Chadron  Academy    6 

Franklin  Academy   8 

Doane  College 18 


Total  number  in  Congregational  schools 42 

Number  of  teachers  in  Nebraska  Wesleyan  University.  .   38 

Estimated  cost  or  value  of  buildings  and  grounds — 

W^eeping  Water  Academy $   12430  00 

Gates  Academy ^7-536  00 

Chadron  Academ}^ 12,806  00 

Franklin  Academy 20,000  00 

Doane  College  including  Crete  Academy..  .    116,500  00 


Total  cost  or  value  of  Nebraska  Congre- 
gational schools $179,266  00 

Estimated  cost  or  value  of  Nebraska  Wesleyan 

University  Methodist-Episcopal  $175,000  00 

Indebtedness — 

Doane  College $2,300  00 

Wesleyan  University 

In  this  study  tlie  reader  is  asked  to  draw  his  own  con- 
clusions as  to  the  advantages  of  either  system.  This  will 
not  be  difficult  to  do.  He  can  easily  see  which  thus  far 
reaches  the  larger  number  of  students  and  which  costs  the 
more  money  per  year.  The  two  systems  have  been  in  exist- 
ence side  by  side  now  for  several  years,  and  this  study  for 
the  Year  1903-4  may  fairly  be  taken  as  representing  the 
comparative  merits  in  the  educational  work  of  both 
denominations. 


sAX'ii'i:  xokMAi.  ikaimm;  S'.  iimoi.  265 

VII 

SAX'IF.l'.    NOUMAl.  •|■|^\1NIX(•.  SCIIOOI- 

Thc  Indian  school  at  Santec.  while  not  supported  directly 
In-  the  Cong:regational  churches  in  Xehraska,  is  a  part  of 
the  educational  v.ork  in  the  state.  The  school  was  founded 
in  1870  by  the  American  Board,  but  in  the  readjustment  of 
our  missionary  work  it  was  later  on  transferred  to  the 
American  Missionary  Association. 

Situated  in  the  northeast  corner  of  Nebraska  it  is  well 
located  to  accommodate  the  Indians  of  the  Northwest.  The 
principal  of  the  school  is  the  well-known  Rev.  A.  L. 
Ri.crgs,  D.D. 

Santee  is  neither  a  college  nor  academy,  but,  as  its  name 
sio-nifies,  is  a  normal  training  school.  Prof.  F.  B.  Riggs. 
M.A.,  the  assistant  principal,  has  given  a  concise  account 
of  the  object  of  the  school  in  these  words : 

"The  fundamental  pur])ose  of  Santee  is  the  preparation 
of  Indian  voung  men  and  women  for  missionary  and  edu- 
cational leadership  among  their  own  people.  Active  Chris- 
tians and  working  churches  are  the  result  of  Christian  edu- 
cation. 

•■Government  schools  d<j  not  and  can  not  provide  adecpiate 
^preparation  for  tlie  missionary  teachers,  preachers,  and  other 
Christian  leaders  that  are  needed.  Santee  does  not  conflict 
with,  compete  with,  or  parallel  the  work  of  the  government 
schools  or  any  other  schools.  .  .  .  Home  life  is  recog- 
nized as  a  potent  educational  means,  and  Santee  dormitories 
are  accordinglv  small  and  numerous,  each  in  charge  of  a 
Christian  ladv  wdio  appreciates  the  responsibilities  of  moth- 
erino-  her  flock.     ...     In  the  academic  work  the  ])eda- 


saxt!:k  noratai.  rKAixixc  sciK'or. 


267 


!L;<)«;ical  ilcvclopiiicnts  at  Santcc  arc  not  only  aijix-ast  of  tin- 
times,  hut  often  advance  into  orit^inality.  The  course  of 
study  is  essentially  unicjue.  The  secondary  value  of  'form 
studx','   such  as  lanmiaqe  and  mathematics,   is  rccofrnized. 


Ri:V.    A.    I..    RIGGS,    D.D. 


and  the  "real  studies,"  or  'thou.cht  studies,'  as  history  or  the 
humanities,  and  the  sciences,  arc  made  the  basis  of  all 
'form  study'  teaciiinj;-. 

"The  order,   relative  value,  and  most  advantageous  use 
of  studies  is  made  a  con.stant  pedagogical  and  psychological 


N 


VI 


y,  ^ 


'la 


<<  en 

&-I     c 


u 


270  CONGREGATKJNAL   NKl'-RASKA 

stud}"  at  Santee.  .  .  Industrial  training  occupies  half  of 
every  pupil's  school  dav. 

''Besides  the  domestic  training  that  the  pupils  inciden- 
tally receive  in  the  care  of  their  rooms,  houses,  and  clothes — 
hoth  bo\  s  and  girls — the  school,  cooking  school,  shop,  and 
farm  give  them  more  systematic  instruction  planned  to  fit 
the  possibilities  of  their  home  conditions.  Santee  pupils  are 
taught  to  make  good  bread,  and  to  jirepare  plain,  nourish- 
ing food  economically,  and  from  such  materials  as  they  have 
at  liome,  or  should  be  able  to  have. 

"The  students  are  practiced  in  the  essentials  of  stock 
raising  and  general  farming.  And  in  laboratory  they  have 
experimental  demonstration  of  the  more  important  theories 
of  agriculture. 

"With  the  mechanical  arts  the  object  is  not  trade  training, 
but  'manu-mental'  instruction,  development  of  the  mind  and 
character  through  the  hand  and  body.  Blacksmithing,  car- 
])entering.  printing  are  used  for  their  mental  and  ethical 
value,  a  means  to  all-around  development."^ 

The  school  also  has  an  e.Ktension  course  with  lectures  by 
Santee  teachers.  Special  classes  are  formed  for  adults  who 
have  had  none  or  but  few  educational  advantages.  These 
are  called  "adult  primaries." 

In  1903  there  w^ere  230  students  catalogued,  of  whom  123 
were  in  the  correspondence  school,  8  in  the  high  school,  51 
in  the  intermediate,  including  from  the  fourth  to  the  seventh 
grades,  7  in  the  adult-primary,  40  in  the  primary,  18  in  in- 
strumental'music,  and  I  unclassified.  The  music  scholars 
are  included  in  the  other  grades. 

Looking  at  the  bright  and  intelligent  faces  of  the  high 
school  pupils  one  can  hardly  realize  that  these  are  the  chil- 
dren of  'Svild  Indians."  They  illustrate  what  Christian 
training  can  do  and  is  doing  for  the  Indian  races. 

^Santee  Normal  Training  School,  by  F.  B.  Riggs. 


SANTl-K   NOR.MAI.    LKAIMN'.   S(   llOOl. 


271 


In  Santee  there  are  representatives  innu  clitieront  tribes 
includin^^  the  Santee,  Winnebago,  Xavajo,  Sioux,  and  ..tlier 
lri].cs   l)ut  in  Christ  Jesus  they  are  all  one.  .  ^      ,     . 

Savs  Prof.  Ri^^s:  -'Durino;  thirty-tonr  years  uL  Santee  s 
hi^toi-v  there  hasx  been  ^reat  ehan^es  in  the  con.htion  oi 
all  the  huhans  oi  the  Xorthwcst.  C'hristianUy  ha.  been  the 
„,,,  ,„„,,,-  that  has  translornuMl  barbarism  nit.,  the  be,L;Mn- 

nin'-'S  of  civihzatinn." 

The  Santee  pupils,  with  scarcely  an  exception   are  or  be- 
c.nr.e  while  in  school  Christians  and  church  members.     And 
in  answer  to  the  questiotK     '"Does  an  Indian  on  returnn^ 
from  school  relapse   to  the  heathen  ways  of  his  people. 
Prof.  Ri^-gs  answers,    'Wo.  never  if  he  has  become  a  :^en- 

nine  Christian."  .,01. 

There  are   eighteen  teachers  an.d  helpers   m  the   Santee 
school    and  the  work  which  they  are  doing  for  the  up-hft 
and  Christian  civilization  of  the  Indian  tribes  can  never  be 
told  bv  statistics,  nor  bv  a  superficial  study  of  the  work 
done   '  It  is  onh'  thev  who  watch  the  progress  of  these  In- 
dian bo^s  and  girls  as  they  go  through  the  years  of  study 
in  Santee    and  then  out  among  their  people  as  leaders  an.l 
heloers.  who  are  competent  to  judge  of  the  character  of 
the\vork  done  in  the  school,  and  the  transformation  of  the 
Indian   into  a   Christian   and  honored  member  of   society. 
\nd  thev  have  but  one  report  to  make,  and  that  is  that  the 
Santee  Normal  Training  School  is  an  institution  of  untold 
blessings  to  the  Indians  of  the  Northwest. 

Into^his  Indian  mission  work  the  Riggs  family  have  put 
their  lives  "Dr.  A.  L.  Riggs  was  born  in  the  work,"  his 
father  being  a  missionarv  among  the  Sioux  in  1857,  and  his 
son  is  following  in  his  steps.  Thev  have  made  Santee 
largelv  what  it  is.  and  are  the  inspiration  ot  its  orowing 
work. 


272 


CONGREGATIONAL   NKIJRASKA 


This  brief  outline  of  Santee  would  be  incomplete  without 
a  sketch  of  that  remarkable  Indian  preacher,  pastor,  and 
missionary,  Artemas  Ehnamani. 

ART]^  M  AS   E  H  N A  M  A N I 

Much  of  the  information  for  the  following  sketch  of  the 
life  of  this  noted   Indian  minister  has  been  received   from 


^^^^^^^^^f!^ 

^1^^ 

^^^^^p           ^^^ 

S^^H|^8|^.i!^^^^^^^^^^H 

> 

l^n 

^ 

'''.^^I^I^^^^^H 

'*'  ,^ 

^^^H 

S^^H 

^liL    ..^^^^1 

REW    ARTEMAS    EHNAIMAXI 


leaflets  and  personal  letters  from  Rev.  A.  L.  Riggs,  D.D., 
of  Santee,  who  more  than  any  one  else  is  conversant  with 
the  facts  of  his  life. 


SANTKF.  NOinrAL  TRAINING  SCHOOL  273 

Artemas  Ehnaniani  was  born  at  Red  Wing,  Minnesota, 
in  1825.  His  boyhood  days  were  passed  along  the  banks  of 
the  :\Iississippi  river.  As  a  young  man  he  was  tall,  attract- 
ive, a  lover  of  the  chase,  and  ready  for  the  war  patji,  es- 
peciallv  when  opportunity  came  to  strike  a  blow  against  the 
Cliinpewas,  the-  enemies  of  his  people.  He  also  won  for 
his  bri.le  the  maiden  of  his  choice,  the  most  beautiful  one  in 
the  tribe,  and  in  this  contest  he  had  many  noted  rivals  from 
the  voimg  men  of  renown. 

While  yet  in  the  prime  of  life  he  and  his  tribe  ceded 
their  ancestral  homesteads  along  the  T\'lississippi  and  moved 
on  10  the  .Sioux  reservation  on  the  Minnesota  river. 

Ehnamani  was  a  participant  in  the  Sioux  outbreak  of 
1862.  and  with  the  other  leaders  was  captured,  imprisoned 
at  Mankato.  Minnesota,  and  Davenport,  Iowa,  and  con- 
demned to  death. 

While  in  prison  he  was  converted,  and  became  a  devoted 
Christian,     and     was     eventually     pardoned     by     President 

Lincoln. 

His  one  book  was  the  Dakota  Bible,  and  the  prison  was 

his  school. 

When  he  and  the  others  were  released  from  prison,  they 
found  that  their  families  had  been  removed  to  Northeastern 
Nebraska  on  the  banks  of  the  Missouri   River. 

Ehnaman.i  was  soon  chosen  one  of  the  preachers  and 
pastors  in  the  reorganized  church.  He  served  Pilgrim  Con- 
o-regational  church  as  pastor  for  thirty-five  years  and  was 
translated  on  the  eve  of  Easter  Day,  1902.  His  wife  also 
became  a  Christian,  and  in  many  ways  a  helper  in  his  work. 
Ehnamani  was  an  out-and-out  Christian:  his  faith  was 
genuine,  his  experience  real.  He  rejoiced  in  Christian  fel- 
lowship, and  believed  strongly  in  the  brotherhood  of  the 
church.  He  was  a  successful  leader,  tender,  compassionate, 
a  man  of  wisdom  and  rare  executive  ability.  He  was  a  veri- 
18 


274  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

table  missionary  superintendent  among  the  Indian  workers 
of  his  day,  and  yet  was  as  humbly  amenable  to  the  discipline 
of  the  church  as  any  other  member. 

Dr.  Riggs  says  that  he  "very  humbly  and  courteously 
accept'ed  the  investigation  and  reproof  of  the  Board  of  El- 
ders when  he  was  accused  of  having  fired  off  a  gun  to  kill 
the  spirits  causing  the  sickness  of  his  wife.  The  truth  was 
that  he  was  humoring  the  whim  of  his  wife,  made  childish 
and  half  demented  by  her  sickness." 

His  message  to  his  people  was  that  of  the  Risen  Savior 
and  Lord. 

He  often  made  trips  among  the  wild  tribes  of  the  Sioux 
and  Dakotas  as  a  Gospel  missionary.  He  was  licensed  to 
preach  in  1866,  and  in  1867  was  ordained  pastor  of  Pilgrim 
Church  at  Santee  agency  and  held  that  position  until  his 
death  in  1902. 

On  account  of  railroad  facilities  Santee  affiliated  with  the 
South  Dakota  Congregational  churches  more  than  with  the 
Nebraska  churches  with  which  it  is  connected.  However, 
from  time  to  time  Pastor  Ehnamani  attended  the  State  As- 
sociation of  Nebraska,  an  interested  spectator  of  its  pro- 
ceedings, and  one  of  its  principal  speakers,  though  speaking 
through  an  interpreter. 

He  has  the  distinction  of  serving  a  Congregational  church 
as  pastor  longer  than  any  other  minister  in  the  state. 

Ehnamani's  second  son,  Rev.  Francis  Frazier,  is  pastor  of 
Pilgrim  Church  which  his  father  served  so  many  years. 

The  eldest  son,  Albert  Frazier,  preaches  to  the  Bazile 
Creek  Church,  Santee  reserve,  some  ten  miles  away  from 
Santee,  but  he  has  not  yet  (January,  1905)  been  ordained 

And  so  the  work  of  Santee,  under  the  efficient  leadership 
of  the  Riggs  family,  goes  on,  the  Indian  pastor's  son  follow- 
ing in  the  footsteps  of  his  father,  and  the  noted  missionary's 
son  trained  to  the  work  from  infancy,  a  leader  among  men, 


SANTli!!-:  NORMAL  TRAINING  SCHOOL  275 

a  scholar  and  teacher  of  that  science  which  makes  for  per- 
fect manhood. 

Santce  mission  was  under  the  American  Ijoartl  from  i<S()6 
to  1882,  when  it  was  transferred  to  the  A.  M.  A. 

The  following-  missionaries  have  been  in  commission : 

Rev.  John  P.  ^^'illiamson,  D.D.,  Mrs.  Sarah  F.  William- 
son, 1866  to  1870. 

Mr.  Edward  R.  Pond,  Airs.  Mary  F.  Pond,  1866  to  1871. 

Rev.  A.  L.  Rig-gs,  D.D.,  Mrs.  Mary  B.  Riggs,  1870  to 
1882  and  since  1882  under  the  A.  M.  A. 


PART  III 


TABLES 


TABLES 

The  following  tables  furnish  many  items  of  interest  to 
the  churches.  Rev.  J.  E.  Storm  prepared  the  tables  contain- 
ing an  alphabetical  list  of  all  ministers  who  have  served  the 
Nebraska  churches,  the  delegates  to  the  National  Council, 
the  names  of  disbanded  churches.  Mrs.  J.  E.  Storm  pre- 
pared Table  VIII,  giving  pastorates  in  living  churches. 
The  South  Platte  and  Lincoln  Land  Companies  furnished 
the  tables  which  bear  their  names.  The  Secretaries  of  the 
American  Board  sent  the  list  of  Nebraskans  on  the  foreign 
field.  The  table  showing  the  sessions  of  the  General  Asso- 
ciation has  been  revised  with  great  care  from  the  manuscript 
minutes  of  the  association,  and  will  show  quite  a  variation 
from  the  table  in' recent  printed  minutes  of  the  association. 

SESSIONS  OF  THE  GENERAL  ASSOCIATION 

The  General  iVssociation  was  organized  in  Omaha,  Au- 
gust 8,  1857,  Rev.  I.  E.  Heaton  temporary  moderator,  E.  H. 
Barnard  temporary  clerk.  At  this  meeting  Rev.  R.  Gay- 
lord  was  elected  moderator,  and  Rev.  I.  E.  Heaton  stated 
clerk.  It  was  voted  that  the  "First  annual  meeting  of  this 
association  be  held  at  Fremont  on  the  last  day  of  October 
next  at  7:00  p.m."  (Ms.  Minutes,  p.  4.).  Taking  the  Fre- 
mont meeting  as  the  first  annual  meeting,  the  sessions  of 
the  General  Association  are  as  follows : 


279 


28o 


CONGREGATIONAL   NEBRASKA 


ANNUAL   MEETINGS 


TEAR 

PLACE 

MODERATOR 

PREACHER 

CLERK 

1857 

Fremont 

R.  Gaylord 

R.  Gaylord 

I.  (iibson,  pro  leiii. 

1858 

Calhoun 

I    E.  Heaton 

R.  Gaylord 

E.B.  Hurlbut 

1859 

Omaha 

E.  B.  Hurlbnt  . . 

I.  E.  Heaton 

R    Gaylord 

1860 

Fremont 

R.  Gavlord 

E.  B.  Hurlbut  . . 

I.  E.  Heaton 

1861 

Font  inelle. .  . 

I.  E.  Heaton 

R.  Gavlord 

E.B -Hurlbut 

1862 

Omaha 

R.  Gaylord 

I.  E.  Heaton..  .  . 

E  B. Hurlbut 

1863 

Elkhorn  

I.  E.  Heaton 

R.  Gaylord 

E.H.  Hurlbut 

1864 

Neb.  Cit}^.... 

R.  Gaylord 

I.  E.  Heaton  .  .  . 

E.B.  Hurl  but 

1865 

Fremont 

L.  H.  Jones 

R.  Gaylord 

E.B.  Hurlbut 

1866 

Fontanelle. .  . 

W.  W.  Rose .... 

L.  H.  Jones 

C.  G.  Bisbee 

1867 

Weep'gW'ter 

E.  B    Hurlbut  .  . 

W.  W.  Rose... 

C.  G.  Bisbee 

1868 

Omaha 

R.  Foster 

E.  B.  Hurlbut  .  . 

C.  G.  Bisbee 

1869 

Fremont 

Chas.  Little 

R.  Foster 

C.  G.  Bisbee 

1870 

Camp  Creek  . 

Fred  Alley 

Chas.  Little 

J.  B.  Chase 

1871 

Lincoln  

Amos  Dresser.  . . 

Fred  Alley 

J    B.  Chase 

1872 

Omaha 

J.  J.  A.T.  Dixon 

Amos  Dresser.  .  . 

J.  B.  Chase 

1873 

Weep'gW'ter 

S.  R.  Dimmock. 

A.  F.  Sherrill... 

J.  B.  Chase 

1874 

Lincoln  

A.  F.  Sherill.... 

H.M.Storrs,  DD 

H.  Bross 

1875 

Omaha 

Col.  C.  Matliewsoii 

W,  Barrows,  DD 

H.  Bross 

1876 

Kearney 

Lewis  Gregory . . 

E.  B.  Fairfield.. 

H.  Bross 

1877 

Crete   

Amos  Dresser.  .  . 

S.  J.  Humphrey. 

H.  Bross 

1878 

Fremont 

Lewis  Gregory . . 

Amos  Dresser..  . 

H.  Bross 

1879 

Lincoln  

Hastings  .... 

T.  A.  Reed 

H.  Bross 

1880 

H.  C.  Abernethy 

(i.  W.  Wainwriglit.... 

H.  Bross 

1881 

Blair 

H.  N.Gates  .... 

C.  W.  Merrill... 

H.  Bross 

1882 

Omaha 

Lewis  Gregorv.  ■ 

W.  M.  Barrows.. 

H.  Bross 

1883 

York 

A.  F.  Sherrill. .  . 

H.  Bross 

Norfolk 

f  C.W.  Merrill  . . 

"1 

1884 

1  Willard  Scott. . 

} 

H.  Bross 

1885 

Beatrice 

E.  H.  Ashmun. . 

Willard  Scott... 

H.  Bross 

1886 

W.  S    Hampton. 

H.  Bross 

1887 

Lincoln  

Loren  F.  Berry.. 

John  L.  Maile  .  . 

H.  Bross 

1888 

Kearney   .... 

Col.  S.  S.  Cotten. 

J.  J.  Parker 

H.  Bross 

1889 

Ashland 

J.  L.  Maile 

A.  R.  Thain  .... 

H.  Bross 

1890 

Norfolk 

John  Askin 

J.  T.  Duryea.... 

H.  Bross 

1891 

Fremont 

A.  R.  Thain  .... 

E.  A.  Deeper  .  . . 

H.  Bross 

1892 

Omaha 

J.  J.  Parker 

Lewis  Gregory . . 

H.  Bross 

1893 

Beatrice 

A.  C.  Hart 

S.  W.  Butler  . . . 

H.  Bross 

1894 

Neligh 

J.  E.  Br<-relon  . . 

R.  T.  Cross 

H.  Bross 

1895 

Crete  

G.  W.  Mitchell.. 

C.  S.  Harrison. . 

F.  C.  Taylor 

1896 

Harvard 

A.  E.  R;cker  ... 

F.  A.  Warfield.. 

F.  C.  Taylor 

1897 

York 

John  Doine 

S.  I.  Hanford... 

F.  C.  Taylor 

1898 

David  City... 
Holdrege  .... 

A.  J    Rogers   . . . 

F.  C.  Taylor 
F.  C.  Tavlor 

1899 

A.  A.  Cressman. 

J.  F.  Bacon 

1900 

Hastings 

R.  T.  Cross 

H.  C.  Herring  . . 

F.  C.  Taylor 

1901 

Norfolk 

W.  J.  Turner 

John  Doane   . . . . 

F.  C.  Taylor 

1902 

Weep'gW'ter 

Geo.  E.  Tavlor.. 

CD.  Gearhart.  . 

F.  C.  Taylor 

1903 

Geneva , 

S.  I.  Hanford.  .  . 

Geo.  W.  Crofts. . 

F.  C.  Taylor 

1904 

Lincoln  

A.  B.  Fairchild.. 

Geo.  A.  Munro  . 

F.  C.  Taylor 

lAlU.F.S  281 

II 

SUPERINTENDENTS  OF   MISSIONS  IN    NEliRASKA 

Gaylord,  Rev.  Reuben — 1 867-1 870. 
Merrill.  Rev.  O.  W.— 1870- 1874. 
Gates,  Rev.  H.  N.—  i 874-1 880. 
Merrill.  Rev.  C.  W'.— i88o-()ct(jl)er   1884. 
:\Iaile,  Rev.  J.  L.— 1884-1889. 
Bross,  D.D.,  Rev.  H.— 1890- 


III 


CORPORATE   MEMBERS  OF  THE  A.    I!.    C.    F.    M. 

YEAR  WHEN 
ELECTED. 

1892 — John  E.  Tuttle,  D.D.,  Lincoln. 
1894 — Col.  S.  Storrs  Cotton,  Norfolk. 
1894 — ]\Iotier  A.  Bullock,  D.D.,  Lincoln. 
1895 — Rev.  Lewis  Gregory,  Lincoln. 
1905— Pres.  D.  B.  Perry,  D.D.,  Crete. 


282 


CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 


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TABLES 


283 


V 

DELEGATKS  FROM   THE  STATE  ASSOCIATION  TO  THE  NATIONAL 

COUNCIL 


The  year  of 

1882— Men-ill,  Rev.  C  W. 

Burnham,  Leavitt, 
Esq. 
1888— I'.erry,  Rev.  L.  F. 

Kilner,  J.  C,  Esq. 
1 89 1 — Bross,  Rev.  H. 

Barnard,  E.  H. 
1894— Hart,  Prof.  A.  C. 


election  is  given. 

1894 — Gregory,  Rev.  Lewis. 
1897— Taylor,  Prof.  F.  C. 

Hanford,  Rev.  S.  I. 
1900 — Herring,  Rev.  H.  C. 

Ricker,  Rev.  A.  E. 
1903 — Hampton,  Rev.  W.  S. 

Bullock,  Rev.  M.  A. 

Selleck,  W.  A.,  Esq. 


DELEGATES    TO    NATIONAL    COUNCIL    FROM    BLUE    VALLEY 
ASSOCIATION 


1889 — Wannamaker,  Rev. 
H.  S. 

Baker,  Rev.  E.  H. 
1892— Bennett,  Rev.  W.  P. 

Hanford,  Rev.  S.  I. 

Storm.  Rev.  J.  E. 
1895 — Cressman,  Rev.  E. 

Rose,  Rev.  L.  P. 
1898— Perry,  Pres.  D.  B. 


1898— Stewart,  Rev.  J.  D. 

Cressman,  Rev.  A.  A. 
1901 — Cressman,    Rev.  A.  A. 

Beaver,  Rev.  C.  H. 

Harrison,  Rev.  C.  .S. 
1904 — Hunt,  Rev.  T.  C. 

Cowan,  Rev.  J-  W. 

Smith,  Mr.   C.   C. 


DELEGATES    TO    NATIONAL    COUNCIL    FROM    COLUMBUS 
ASSOCIATION 

1874 — Dresser,   Rev.   Amos  1880 — Reed,  Rev.  J.  A. 

Elliott,  Rev.  J.  E.  Biscoe,  Rev.  G.  S. 

i877_Reed,  Rev.  Julius  Tiffany,  Mr.  F.  B. 

Mathewson,  Col.  C.  1883 — Eastman,  Rev.  W.  H. 


284 


CONGREGATIONAL   NEBRASKA 


1883— Lee,  Mr.  C.  H. 

1886 — Cressman,  Rev.  A.  A. 

Lewis,  Mr.  Hiram 
1889— Tasker;  Rev.  J.  O. 
1892 — Doane,  Rev.  John 


1895 — Peas.  Rev.  F.  W. 

Needham,  Mrs.  O.  M. 
1898— Batty,  Rev.   G.  J. 
1901 — Appleton,   Rev.   F.  G. 

Price.  Mr.  John  A. 
1904 — Munro,   Rev.   G.   A. 


DELEGATES   TO   THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL    FROM    ELKHORN 
"  \-ALLl!;Y    ASSOCIATION 


i8c)5 — Parker.  Rev.  J.  J.    . 

Elhs,  Rev.  ].¥. 

Clark.  Mr.  Geo.  E. 
1898— Bacon.  Rev.  J.  F. 

Copeland,   Mr.    Geo. 


1 90 1 — Xo  record. 

1904 — Schroder,  Rev.  G.  W. 

Kokjer,   Rev.   J.   M. 

Parker,  Rev.   T-  T- 


DELEGATES     TO     NATIONAL    'COUNCIL     FROM     FRONTIER 
ASSOCIATION 

1892 — Hampton,  Rev.  W.  S.      1901 — Axtell,  Rev.  A.  G. 
1895 — No  record.  1904 — No  record. 

i8t)8 — No  record. 


DELEGATES    TO    NATIONAL    COUNCIL    FROM     LINCOLN 
ASSOCIATION 


1877— Chase,  Rev.  J.  B. 

Lee,  Dea.  Geo.  F. 
i88i^Leavitt,  Rev.  W.   M. 

Peet,  Mr.  W.  W. 
1883 — Gregory,   Rev.   Lewis 

Post,  Dea.  E. 
1886 — Ashmun,  Rev.  E.  H. 

Bellows,   Mr.   Fred 
1889 — Gregory,  Rev.   Lewis 

Leavitt  Mr.  T.  H. 


1892 — Enlow,  Rev.  C.  E. 

Bell.  Mr.  W.  O. 
1895— Bell,  Mr.  J.  W.^ 

Bell,  Mr.  W.  O. 
1898— Stevens.  Dr.  J.  F. 
1901 — Manss.  Rev.  W.  H. 

Crofts,  Rev.  G.  W. 
1904 — Hanford,  Rev.  S.  I. 

Tavlor.  Principal 
F.  C. 


TAr.l.KS 


285 


di-:lecati:s  to  NATioxAr,  cdincil  ff^om  omaiia  association 

1874— Gaylord.  Rev.  Reuben      i88y— Alexander,  Mr.  N.  H. 
1877 — Sherrill,   Rev.   F.  A.        1892 — W'ainwright,    Rev. 


1880 — Spencer,  Rev.  J.   G. 
1883— Swing",  Rev.  A.  T. 

Scott,   Rev.   Willard 
1886— Wainwright,    Rev. 

G.  ^^^ 

Burnhani.    Mr.    Lea- 
vitl 
1889— Scott.    Rev.    Willard 


G.  W. 
1895— lUiss,  Rev.  VV.  H. 
1898 — Pearson,   Rev.    Sam- 
uel 
1 90 1 — Hatch,  Rev.  F.  A. 
Loomis,  Mr.  G.  L. 
1904 — Herring,   Rev.   H.   C. 
Loomis,  Mr.  G.  L. 


i)1-:li-:gates  tO' national  coixtn.  i-rom  KKi'inLicAN  valley 
association 

1883— Hampton,  Rev.  W.S.      1895— Mac Ayeal,  Rev.  H.  S. 


r.ush,  Hon.  A.  H. 
i88r^Harrison,  Rev.  C.  S. 

Bush,  Mr.  Royal 
1889 — Taylor,  Rev.  Geo.  E. 

Cading,  Mr.  C.  L. 
1892 — Taylor,  Rev.  Geo.  E. 

MacAyeal,  Rev.  H.  S. 


Clark,  Rev.  V.  F. 
1898 — Foster,    Rev.    John 

Faling.    Afr.    \\\    H. 
1 90 1 — No  report. 
1904— Mitchell,  Rev.  G.  W. 

Campbell,   Mr.   T.   B. 


DELEGATES   OF  THE   GERMAN    ASSOCIATION    TO   THE    NATIONAL 

COUNCIL 


1883 — Suess,  Rev.  Wm. 
1886— Albrecht,  Rev.  Geo. 


1892 — Mannliardt,  Rev.  Mr. 
1895 — Eversz,  Supt.  M.  E. 


286 


CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 


VI 

LIST    OF    CHURCHES    WHOSE    NAMES    HAVE    BEEN    DROPPED    AS 
SHOWN   BY   STATE   MINUTES 

The  printed  record  from  which  this  roll  is  made  begins 
1867. 

OMITTED    IN  OMITTED    IN 


1 868 — Lancaster. 
1870 — Papillion. 
1871- — Salt  Creek. 
1873 — Pepperville. 

Jenkins  Mills. 

Nursery  Hill. 

Twin  Grove. 
1874 — Calla. 

Elmore. 

Plattsmouth. 

Eldred. 

Bell  Creek  (Ger.). 
1875 — Palmyra. 

Green  Island. 

Pleasant  Hill.     • 
1876 — Elkhorn  City. 

Fremont   ( German ) . 

La  Platte. 

Maple  Creek. 

Elmwood  Precinct. 

Webster  County  First 
1877 — Pleasant  Prairie. 

Boone  County- 2d. 

Pebble. 
1878— Central  City. 

Victoria. 
Sarpy  Center, 


1879 — Mapleville. 

Herrick. 
1881 — Sheridan. 

Scott  Precinct. 

Lincoln   ( German ) . 

Rock  Creek. 
1882— Driftwood. 

Dayton. 

Iowa  Ridge. 

Pleasant  Grove. 

Red  Willow. 

Oakdale. 

Valley  Grange. 

Lincoln  Valley. 
1883 — Boone. 

Richardson  Co.  ist. 

Precept. 

Summit. 
1 884 — Dorchester. 

Wilber. 

West  Cedar  Valley. 

Wheatland. 

Buda  Flatts  (Ger.). 

Ebenezer  (German), 

Friedensau   (Ger.). 

Prairie  Center. 


287 


OMITTED    IN 

1885— Buffalo  Creek. 

Cedar  Creek. 

Chapman. 

Hazel  Dell. 

Lone  Tree. 

Morning  Star. 

Plainview. 

Schuyler. 

\\"a  viand. 
1886— Af  ton. 

Alma. 

Batin. 

Beaver  Crossing. 

Bloomington. 

Centerville. 

Clearwater, 

Council. 

Edison. 

Gar  Creek. 

Gibbon  (German). 

Hampton. 

Holt  County  First. 

Ivanhoe. 
1887— Elk  City  (German) 

Friedens. 

Holdrege. 

Louisville. 

Mainland. 

New  Hope. 

Osceola. 

Osborn. 

Otoe  Reservation. 

Pleasant   Grove. 


OMITTED    IN 

1887 — Salem. 

Western. 

Spring  View. 

Utica. 
1 888— Bethel. 

Burnett. 

Butler   County   First. 

Cedar  Bluffs. 

Cedar  Rapids. 

Fontanelle. 

Glencoe. 

Grafton    ( German ) . 

Guide  Rock. 

Huntington. 

Inavale. 

Oak  Grove. 

Oxford. 

Pleasant  Ridge. 
1 889 — Enterprise. 

Hayes  County  First 
(German). 

Lakeside. 

Neel. 

Palisade   (German). 

Pleasant  View. 

Trumbull. 

Waco. 

York  (German). 
1890 — Llighland    (German). 

Martinsburg. 

Randolph. 

Rockville. 

Stratton, 


288 


CONGREGATIONAL   NI-IBRASKA 


OMITTED   IN 

1 889 — Greeley. 
1 89 1 — Bradshaw. 

Cumminsville. 

North  Bend. 

Osborne    ( German ) . 

Rnshville. 

Stockyille. 

Vailton. 

Wellfleet. 
1892 — Pilger. 

South  Bend. 
1893 — Flag  Butte. 

Macon. 

Spring  Ranch. 
1894 — Keuka. 

Kimball. 

Park  Place. 

Snake  Creek. 

Victoria. 

Willow  Valley. 
1896 — Belknap. 

Loomis. 

Moline. 

Nonpareil. 

Talmage. 

Pleasant  Ridge. 

Clear  Water. 

Dolphin. 

Sunny  view. 
1897 — Blyville. 
1898 — Douglas. 


OMITTED   IN 

1899 — Berlin. 

Culbertson  (German) 

Deshler. 

Greenwood. 

Richmond. 
1900 — Gloversville. 

Hayes  Center. 

Mascot. 

Niobrara. 

Emmaus. 

Oak  Creek. 

Bennington. 

Platte  Valley. 
1902 — Nelson    ( German) . 
1903 — Crete  Bethlehem. 

Free  Water. 

Omaha  Pilgrim. 

Pleasant  Valley. 

Watsville. 

Hope  moved  to  S.  D. 

Elkhorn. 

Fremont    ( German ) . 

Maple  Creek. 

Pleasant  Hill. 
1904 — Beaver  Creek. 

Ft.  Calhoun. 

Upland. 

Blackwood. 

Crico. 

Edgar. 


TABLES  289 

The  agGiregate  membership  in  the  preceding-  ■  Hst  of 
churches  dropped  is  not  large.  Some  names  have  been 
changed,  merged  into  other  churches;  some  after,  a  time 
have  been  reorganized,  and  others  have  ceased  to  exist 
entirely.  They  illustrate  the  changes  going  on  in  a  frontier 
state  where  population  is  not  settled  and  show  that  the 
present  list  of  living  churches  by  no  means  indicates  the 
active  work  of  Congregationalists  in  the  state. 


19 


290 


CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 


VII 

The  following  is  a  list  of  town  lots  donated  bv  the  South 
Platte  Land  company  for  school  and  church  purposes: 

LIST  OF  LOTS  DONATED 


South  Bend. 
Highland...    20,  "21 
Louisville..  .1  411,  412   . 
Waverly . . . . '  41,  42,  23 

Greenwood  .    294,  295   . 

Greenwood  .    551,  552. 


Exeter. 
Exeter. 


Exeter . 

Crete.  . 
Crete .  . 
Crete . . 
Crete.  . 
Crete .  . 
Crete . . 
Crete . . 
Crete .  . 
Crete.  . 
Crete. . 
Crete . . 
Crete. . 
Crete. . 
Crete .  . 
Crete.  . 
Crete .  . 
Crete.  . 
Crete .  , 
Crete. . 
Crete.  . 
Crete. . 
Crete. . 
Crete . 
Crete . . 
Crete.  . 


f  37,   38,   39,  for  consideration  of 
\  f  50,  equals  donation  of  one  lot 
)  321,  322,  for  consideration  of  $55, 
\  equals  donation  of  one  lot  to  . 
(  491,  492,  Baptist  Church  for  S30, 
\  equals  the  donation  of  one  lot .  . 

7,  8,  block  51 

7,  8,  block  60 

3,  4,  in  1.  9 

7,  block  79 

23,  24,  block  82 

10,  block  84 

11,  12,  block  85 

9,  block  94 

31,  32,  block  108 

10,  11,  12,  block  110, 

1,  2,  block  113 

12,  13,  block  119 

19,  20,  block  120 

22,  2.>,  24,  block  120 

4,  5,  block  121 

35,  block  121 

20,  block  122 

12,  block  125 

20,  block  1-8 

1,  2,  block  129 

22,  block  14:2 

(3,  block  144 

16,  block  159 

11,  12,  block  11,  1 

6,  7,  block  187 


School  Dist. 
Dist.  No.  24 
First  Cong.  Church 
vSchool  Dist.  No.  42 
f  Cong.    Church    of 
\    Greenwood 
Church  of  Christ 

Catholic  Church 

M.  E.  Church 

Baptist  Church 
Doane  College 
Doane  College 
Doane  College 
Doane  College 
Doane  College 
Doane  College 
Doane  College 
Doane  College 
Doane  College 
Doane  College 
Doane  College 
Doane  College 
Doane  College 
Doane  C  ollege 
Doane  College 
Doane  College 
Doane  College 
Doane  College 
Doane  College 
Doane  College 
Doane  College 
Doane  College 
Doane  College 
Doane  College 
Doane  College 


TAT5LES 
LIST  OF  LOTS  DONATED— Cow. 


291 


Crete 

Crete 

Crete 

Crete 

Crete 

Crete 

De  Witt. . . . 
Dorchester 
Dorchester 
Dorchester 

Dorchester 

Fainnont  . . 
Fairmont  . . 

Inland 

Sutton,  1st  add 

Sutton 

Sutton 

Harvard  . .  . 
Harvard  . .  . 

Juniata 

Juniata 

Juniata 

Kenesaw. .  . 
Kenesaw . . . 
Lowell 

KearucY  Junction 

York 

York 

York 


LOT   NOS. 


11,  12.  block  192 

9,  10,  block  193 

11,  1-J,  block  203 

11,  1-2,  block  210 

7,  8,  9,  block  240 

(  7,  8,  block  118,  for  consid.  of  §30, 

\  equal  to  a  donation  of  one  lot .  .  . 

660,  661 

r)03.  504 

707,708 

787   788 
j  r  1237,   1238,'  ivi .' " K.  Church  for  a 
I  j  consideration  of  §25,  equal  to  a 

i  donation  of  one  lot 

I  662 

674,675 


SCHOOL  OR   CHURCH 


86,  87,  88,  89,  90,  91 ,  92.  93,  94,95,96 

13,  14,  15,  16.  block  4 

11,  12,  block  28 

1.  2.  block  29 

54 


186,187 

834,  835,  836,  837,  838.  839. 
861,  862,  863 

1022,1023 


11.  12.  13.  14. 

16 

562,  563,  564  . 

63,  64   


4,  5,  block  40 
1,  block  12... 
4,5 


Doane  College 
Doane  College 
Doane  College 
Doane  College 
Doane  College 

Episcooal  Church 
M.  K.  Church 
School  Dist.  No.  44 
Christian  Church 
Couij.  Church 


M.  E.  Church 
M.  E.  Church 
Presbytcr'n  Church 
I  School     Dist.    No. 
\    17,  Adams  Co. 
Ger.  Immauuel   Ch. 
Rt.Rev.J.O'Conncr 
1st  Cong.  Church 
1st  Cong.  Church 
vSchool  Di.st.  No.  11 
School  Dist.  Juniata 
M.  E.  Church 
f  German  Baptist 
\    Brethren   Church 
I  School    Dist.    No. 
I    3,  .A.dams  Co. 
Baptist  Church 
f  School  Di.st.  No.  2, 
\    Kearney  Co. 
/  School  Di.st.  No.  7, 
\    Buffalo  Co. 
School   Dist.  No.  12 
Piesbvter'n  Church 
Methodi.st  Church 


Aside  from  the  above  list  of  town  lots  donated  for  school 
and  church  purposes,  a  great  many  lots  were  given  by  the 
South  Flatte  Land  company  for  the  promotion  of  immi- 
gration and  for  the  furtherance  of  local  business  enter- 
prises, such  as  hotels,  newspapers,  and  stores  in  nearly  every 
town  in  the  territory  of  said  company. 


292 


CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 


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-NVAa 


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NVIXSIHHD 


DnOHiVD 


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'  .-I       •  CO  r 


NVIHHX 

-AasaHd 


iSiaoHiaiM 


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TABLES 


293 


.-I       •i-li-H71i-l,-l       •  •i-(i-l— li-HrH       •       •(MC<It*(t-I        T-Hr-I       •        (Mi-HfM 


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294 


CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 


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TABLES  295 


<   :   : 

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296 


CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 


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aaxiMii 

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Town  and  state 

Newcastle,    Wj-o 

Nelson,  Neb 

Ohiowa,    Neb 

Oberlin,   Kan 

Orleans,    Neb 

Ong,    Neb 

Prague,  Neb 

Palmer,  Neb 

Phillips,   Neb 

Palisade,  Neb 

Pringle,  S.  D 

Red  Cloud,  Neb 

Ravenna,   Neb 

Reynolds,  Neb 

Smithfield,  Neb 

Shubert,   Neb 

Stamford,  Neb 

St.  Francis,  Kan 

Scntts  Bluff,  Neb 

Stratton,  Neb 

Strang,  Neb 

TABLES 


297 


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298  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

VITI 

PASTORATES  IN  LIVING  CHURCHES  OCTOBER   I,    I905. 

The  following  table  of  pastorates  in  living  churches  was 

prepared  by  Mrs.   J.   E.   Storm.     Its  value  is  apparent  to 

those  who  wish  to  study  the  record  of  any  given  church. 
This  table  is  as  correct  as  could  be  made  from  the  printed 

minutes. 

Present  pastors  marked  ■ — . 

Addison  (Bloomfield) — Organized  1889. — Revs.  G.  R. 
Berry,  1890;  J.  W.  Hardy  (Lie),  1891-92;  E.  Martin, 
1893-96;  E.  S.  Sarkis,  1896-98;  R.  Y.  Grey,  1898;  C. 
Anderson,  1899;  Mrs.  J-  W.  Mason,  1902;  R.  Graham, 
1903 ;  A.  J.  Iden,  1903 ;  N.  Sherman,  1904 — . 

AiNSWORTii — Organized  1883. — J.  Herbert  (Stu.),  1883; 
Revs.  T.  Gray,  1883;  N.  E.  Packard,  1884;  J.  A.  Mil- 
ligan,  1884-86;  T.  V/;  De  Long,  t888-<)S  ;  S.  Eveland, 
1896-98;  H.  M.  Triplett,  1898-1902;  C.  D.  Gearhart, 
1902-3 ;  R.  F.  Paxton,  1905 — . 

Albion — Organized  1872. — Revs.  C.  C.  Elumphrey,  1874- 
78;  J.  Armstrong,  1878-80;  A.  A.  Cressman,  1880^86; 
E.  S.  Chandler,  1887;  W.  J.  Turner,  1887^1:  F.  W. 
Peas,  1892-95;  L.  H.  Stoughton,  1895-1900;  C.  Doug- 
las, 1900-3;  A.  C.  Townsend,  1903 — . 

Alliance  (German)- — Organized  1903.  —  Rev.  Otto 
Roehrig,   1903 — . 

A r.M A- -Organized  1888.— Revs.  Wm.  Marshall,  i88t  ;  J.  AV. 
Hadden,.  1884-85:  G.  L.  Dickenson,  188&-90;  A.  E. 
Ricker,  1891-95;  R.  M.  Travers,  1895;  W.  S.  Hills, 
1896-98;  ¥.  W.  Peas,  1 899-1902 ;  A.  J.  Folsom, 
1902-3  ;  \V'm.  LFauptman,  1904-5  ;  D.  H.  Piatt,  1905 — . 

Almeria — Organized  1905. — Rev.  T.  Evans,  1905—. 


TABLliS  299 

Arbornu-I-i: — Organized  1876. — Revs.  C.  S.  Harrison, 
1875-76;  W.  S.  Hampton,  1877-80;  S.  S.  Haines, 
1881  ;  J.  W.  Young,  1882-84;  D.  E.  French,  18S4;  J.  E. 
Storm,  1885-87;  G.  W.  Alitchell,  1888-92;  J.  A.  High, 
1892-93;  N.  E.  Gardner,  1895-99;  W.  W.  Hart,  1899- 
1902:  W.  B.  Payne.  1900-2;  G.  R.  Martin.  1902-3; 
D.  E.  French,  1903 — . 

Arcadia — Organized  1889. — Revs.  H.  Hitchcock,  1889- 
90;  M.  J.  P.  Thing,  1891-95;  J.  F.  Smith,  i895-i)8; 
W.  H.  Houston,  1898-1900;  F.  G.  Appleton,  1900-2; 
Harold  Hunting  (Stu.).  1903;  H.  A.  .Shuman,  1903 — . 

Arlington — Organized  1883. — Revs.  B.  F.  Dififenbacher, 
1883-85;  W.  P.  Clancy,  1885-87;  A.  Otis  (Stu.),  1887; 
J.  P.  Bidwell,  188S-89;  A.  W.  Ayers,  i889-<)2;  J.  W. 
Kidder,  1S93-94;  F.  G.  Appleton,  1899;  L.  S.  Hand, 
1 900- 1 ;  G.  H.  Rice,  1902-3;  G.  Rindell,  1904  — 

Ashland — Organized  1871. — Revs.  Asa  Farwell,  1871-77; 
Wm.  Eeavitt,  1878-86;  J.  E.  Brereton,  1886-92;  W. 
Denney,  i892-<)7;  T.  W.  C.  Cheeseman,  1898-1900; 
W.  C.  Blakeslee,  1900-2  ;  J.  W.  Carson,  1903 — . 

ATEx—Organized  1882.— Revs.  R.  H.  Baker,  1884;  W.  H. 
Stuhbins.  1884-87;  L.  Belknap,  1888;  G.  R.  Berry, 
1889-91;  E.  Durant,  1891-92;  J.  Hardy,  1893-94;  W. 
T.  Williams,  1895-1902;  A.  J.  Iden,  1903-4;  T.  Dyke, 
1905 — . 

Aurora — Organized  1872. — Revs.  D.  B.  Perry,  1872;  A. 
Maxwell.  1873;  Rev.  Mr.  Hill.  1874-75;  W.  Woolman, 
1876-80:  A.  L.  Seward,  188(^84;  J.  G.  Spencer,  1885- 
86:  E.  Crcssman.  1887:  M.  Baskerville,  1888-01;  S.  I. 
Hanford,  1891-97:  W.  H.  Hopkins,  1898-1901  :  A.  E. 
Ricker,   iqoi — . 

AvocA— Organized  1865.— Revs.  F.  Alley,  1866-68;  C.  B. 
Taylor,  1883:  J.  ilorley.  1884-87:  G.  W.  Mitchell, 
1887-89:  D.  L.  Hillard,   1889-90:  G.  C.  Hicks,   1891- 


300  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

94;  C.  J.   Sage,   1897-99;  J.  H.  Andress,   1S99-1901 ; 
J.  H.  Bennett,  1901-4;  M.  B.  Bird,  1905 — . 

Baker — Organized  1900. — Rev.  G.  W.  Martin,  1900;  Rev. 

J.  B.   Brown,   1905 — . 
Bassett — Organized    1903. — Rev.    Wm.    Haresnape,    1903  ; 

Mr.  A.  Mygatt  (Stu.),  1904—. 
Bazile     (Niobrara) — Organized     1888.— Revs.    A.    Ehna- 

mani,  1888-91  ;  J.  Garvie,  1891-94;  F.  Frazier,  1905 — . 
Beatrice— Organized  1884.— Revs.  M.  F.  Piatt,  1884;  Wm. 

O.  Weeden,  1884-86;  E.  H.  Ashman,  1886-88;  Mr.  A. 

Hertel    (Stu.),    1888;   E.   S.    Smith,    188&-92;   G.   W. 

Crofts,  1892-1904;  E.  Booth,  Jr.',   1904 — . 
Beemer — Organized    1899. — Revs.    A.    W.    Ayers,    1899- 

1903  ;  Geo.  Scott,  1903 — . 
Bertrand — Organized   1885.— Revs.  C.  H.  Huestis,   1886- 

88;  A.  W.  Coffman,  1888-90;  U.  C.  Bosworth,  1890; 

J.  Kerr,   1892;  H.  C.  Snyder,  1893-94;  F.  D.  Healey, 

1895-99;  J.  S.  Calhoun,  1899-1901  ;  J.  Embree,  T902-4; 

J.  Crocker,  1904;  H.  F.  Holton,  1904 — . 
Bingham — Organized  1900. — Mr.  M.  W.  Williams  (Stu.), 

1S90;  Revs.  H.  C.  Cleveland,  1898-1900;  J.  E.  Storm, 

1900^2;  W.  D.  King,  1903-5;  W.  T.  Hadsel  (M.  E.), 

1905—. 
Bladen— Organized   1886.— Revs.  D.  O.   Smith,   1886-87; 

W.  H.  Houston,  1889-90;  B.  O.  Snow,  1891-93;  W. 

A.  Davies,  1894-96;  A.  S.  Heathcote,  1897-98,  F.  W. 

Grupe,  1900-1 ;  T.  F.  May,  1904 ;  J.  T.  Ellis,  1905 — . 
Blair- Organized    1870.— Revs.   M.   S.   Sperry,    1868;   M. 

Tingley,  1869-77;  R.  Campbell,  1878-80;  G.  W.  Wain- 

wright,    1880-82;   Mr.   Fink    (Stu.);   H.   M.   Goodell, 

1882-84;  A.  M.  Case,  1884-87;  A.  Rogers,  1887-88; 

J.  Powers,  1889-92;  T.  D.  McLean,   1893;  G.  B.  Per- 
kins, i894-c)7:  F.  W.  Gardner,  1899-1900;  J.  W.  Lar- 

kin,  190 1-3  ;  A.  G.  Axtell,  1904 — . 


TABLES  301 

Bloo.aj FIELD — Organized  i8yi. — Revs.  J.  W.  Hardy,  1891- 

92;   E.   ^fartin,    1893-96;   E.   S.   Sarkey,    1896-97;   C. 

Anderson,    1898-1900;   E.    Ijootli.   jr..    1900-3;   (i.    I.. 

j\TcDou£;:al,    1903;   R.   Graham,    1903 — . 
Brewster — Organized   1899. — Mr.  T.  A.   Dungan   (Stu.), 

1899;  Revs.  T.  Evans,  1900-4;  J.  C.  Noyce,  1904 — . 
Bri'le — Organized    1896. — Revs.    W.    S.    Hampton,    1894- 

97;  F.  S.  Perry.   1898;  G.  W.  Knapp,  1898-1902;  Mr. 

II.  H.  Rhule  (Stu.),  1902;  T.  Jones  (Stu.),  1903-4. 
Bruning — Organized    1890. — Revs.    E.    L.    Ely,    1890;    F. 

Fox,   1891;   E.   Martin,   1892;  G.  J.   Battey,   1893-95; 

W.  R.  Griffiths,  1897;  A.  L.  Squires,  1898;  W.  A.  Al- 
corn,  1S99-1902;  D.  E.  Thomas   (Stu.),  1903;  M.  J. 

[Millard,   1904 — . 
Brunswick — Organized    1891. — Revs.    H.    Griffith,    1S91- 

92;  W.  A.  bavies,  1893;  S.  A.  Bear  (M.  E.),  1894; 

G.  T.  Noyce.  1 895-1 901  ;  W.  J.  Isaacs,  1901-3;  C.  M. 

Thomas,  1903-5  ;  J.  ^I.  Kokjer,  1905 — . 
Bl-r\vi-:ll- Organized  1888.— Mr.  J.  A.  Otis  (Stu.),  1888; 

Revs.  G.  F.  McHenry,  1888;  A.  W.  Connett,  1889-90; 

D.   W.   Comstock,    1890;   C.   E.   Walker,   1891 ;   A.   A. 

r.aker,   i8<}2-(}3;  A.   L.   Squires,   1894;  H.   M.  Evans, 

i8(;5-97:  J.  E.  McKenney,  1897-98;  C.  E.  Campbell, 

1899-1902;    H.    A.    ."^human,    1902;    J.    B.    Stocking, 

1903—. 
Butte — Organized   1891. — Revs.   W.   Loney,    1893-95;   W. 

A.  Hensel,  1896-98;  J.  Gray,  1898-1901 ;  P.  B.  West, 

1902-4;  J.   M.  Brown,    1905 — . 
lU'TTE     (German) — Organized     1895. — Revs.     J.     Single, 

1898-1901  ;  H.  J.  Dietrick,  1901-3  ;  H.  Pless,  1003 — . 

CA.ArRRiDGK — Organized  1883. —  Revs.  W.  S.  Hampton. 
1880-82;  F.  W.  Barber,  1883:  J.  W.  Hadden,  1884; 
A.  N.  Dean,  1885-89;  H.  S.  MacAyeal,  1889-95 ;  D.  R. 


302  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

James,  1895-96;  J.  Foster,  1897-98;  W.  Hardcastle, 
1899-1903;  J.  P.  Ratzell,  1903 — . 

Campbell — Organized  1875.- — ^I'"-  Gardner  (Stu.),  1886; 
Revs.  D.  O'.  Smith,  1886-89;  W.  H.  Houston,  1889- 
91;  B.  O.  Snow,  1891-93;  S.  A.  Mounts,  1893;  W.  A. 
Davies,  1894-96;  A.  S.  Heathcote,  1897-99;  G.  W. 
Grupe,  1900-2;  F.  Pile,  1903;  T.  F.  May,  1904-5; 
J.  T.  Ellis,  1905 — . 

Camp  Creek — Organized  1868. — Revs.  R.  Foster,  1868- 
71;  C.  C.  Humphrey,  1871-73;  A.  B.  Pratt,  1873-75; 
J.  E.  Lowes,  1876-78;  A.  A.  Cressman,  1879-80;  L.  T. 
Mason,  1881-82;  E.  C.  W.  Hill,  1883-85;  A.  Dresser, 
1886-96;  J.  L.  Fisher,  1896-97;  G.  B.  Spangler,  1898- 
1902  ;  J.  Jeffries,   1902 — . 

Carroll  (Welsh) — Organized  1891. — Revs.  S.  Jones, 
1891-IQ01 ;  D.  T.  Morgan,  1902-3;  J.  V.  Jones, 
1905—. 

Center — Organized  1902. — Mr.  J.  H.  Mason  (Stu.),  1902; 
Revs.  J.  A.  Kraemer,  1903 ;  R.  Graham,  1905 — . 

Chadron — Organized  1885. — Revs.  H.  Bross,  1885  ;  G.  J. 
Powell,  1886-88;  J.  A.  Thome,  1888-90;  F.  L.  Fergu- 
son, 1890-92;  J.  Powers,  1893-94;  A.  E.  Ricker,  1895- 
1900;  J.  H.  Andress,  1901 — . 

Clarks — Organized  1878. — Revs.  B.  A.  Dean,  1878;  G.  S. 
Biscoc,  1879-85;  G.  W.  Brownjohn,  1886-87;  Miss 
E.  K.  Henry,  1887;  J.  A.  Thome,  1888-89;  J.  E.  Storm, 
1890-91;  C.  W.  Terrell,  1892-93;  Mrs.  E.  B.  Perkins, 
1893-95;  H.  J.  Hinman,  1897-98;  Mrs.  E.  B.  Perkins, 
1899-1904;  G.  W.  Mitchell,  1905- — . 

Clay  Center — Organized  1882. — Revs.  G.  E.  Taylor, 
1881-86;  E.  Southworth,  t886;  R.  R.  Williams,  1887- 
90;  Mr.  F.  L.  Johnston  (Stu.),  1890;  E.  H.  Baker, 
1891-93;  B..  L.  Webber,  1894-95;  Mrs.  E.  B.  Perkins, 
1896-99;  J.  E.  Storm,  1899-1900;  C.  S.  Harrison, 
1901-2 ;  R.  M.  Travers,  1903-4 ;  J.  H.  Bennett,  1904 — . 


TABLES  303 

Clemen— Organized  1901.— Mr.  J.  W.  Ellis  (Stu.),  1901 J 

Revs,  J.  C.  Noyce,  1901-3 ;  T.  E.  Nugent,  1904. 
Columbus — Orjc^anized    1867. — Revs.    J.    B.    Chase,    1868- 

69;  J.  E.   I":iliot,   1870-75;  C.  C.   Starbuck,   1875;  T. 

P.ayne,    1876-78;  E.   L.   Sherman,    1878-81;  J.    Gray, 

1882;  O.  V.  Rice,   1883-89;  G.  Morton,  1889;  W.  S. 

Hunt,   1890-91;  O.  D.  Crawford,  1893;  A.  J.  Rogers, 

1894-99;  G.  .'\.  Monroe,  1900 — . 
CoMSTOCK — Organized  1903.- — Revs.  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Helscr, 

1903;    S.    A.    Van  Luvan,    1904-5;    J.    H.    Kraemer, 

1905—. 
CoRTLANi) — Organized   1875. — Revs.  C.   H.   Heustis,   1884; 

H.  Bates,  1885-87;  H.  C.  Halbersleben,  188&-90;  G.  R. 

Battey,    1890-93;    F.    G.    McHenry,    1893-96;    E.    E. 

Sprague,    1898;    G.    Scott,    1899-1903;    C.    G.   Oxley, 

1904;  W.  H.  LeBar,  1904-5. 
CowLES — Organized    1883. — Revs.   A.    [Martinis.    1884:   \\\ 

D.  Page,  1885-88;  H.  D.  Piatt,   1888-93;  S.  Deakin, 

1893-1900;  J.  M.  Kokjer,  1901-3 ;  S.  Deakin,  1904 — . 
Crawford — Organized     1889. — Mr.     I.     Meredith     (Stu.), 

1889;   Revs.    E.    H.    Pound,    1889-90;    I.   J.    Gardner, 

1891;  H.  R.  Baker,  1892;  J.  Jeffries,  1893-95;  H.  V. 

Rominger,  1896-98;  A.  C.  Townsend,  1899-190T ;  G.  L. 

Shull,  T901 — . 
Creightox — Organized     1872. — Revs.     C.     H.     Emerson, 

1871-83;  J.  P.  Sparrow,   1883-84;  T.  Kent,   1884-86; 

J.  P.  Preston,  1887-89;  J.  W.  Barron,  1890-93;  G.  W. 

James,  1894-1900;  C.  J.  Rogers,  1900;  E.  L.  Wismer, 

190 1-2  ;  A.  A.  Brown,  1903 — . 
Crete — Organized    1871. — Revs.    F.    Alley,    1871-73;    H. 

Bross,  1873-84;  W.  P.  Bennett.  1884-96;  M.  W.  Morse. 

1896-1901 ;  J.  \y.  Cowan,  1901 — . 
Crete   (German) — Organized  1876. — Revs.    C.    F.    Veitz. 

1875-79;    F-    Falk,    1880;    P.    Weidman,    1881-84;   J. 


304  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

.Schaerer,  1884-91;  VV.  Fritzemeier,  1892-97;  F.  Eger- 

land,  1897-1901 ;  K.  L.  Stahl,  1902-4;  FI.  C.  Stahner, 

1905—. 
Crofton — Organized  1896. — Revs.  W.  T.  Williams,  1896- 

1902 ;  A.  J.  Iden,  1903-5 ;  T.  Dyke,  1905. 
CUMMINGS     Park — Organized     1900. — Revs.     S.     Deakin, 

1901-4;  T.  Evans,   1904. 
Curtis — Organized    1888. — Revs.    W.   D.    Page,    1888-90; 

C.  W.  Preston,  1892-1900;  E.  U.  Menzi,  1900;  J.  L. 

Plsher,  1901-3  ;  F.  W.  Gardner,   1904 — . 

Daily  Branch — Organized  1883. — Revs.  G.  H.  Rice,  1898- 
1900;  F  McRae,  1900-2;  G.  W.  Schroeder,  1903-4; 
J.  Roberts,   1905 — . 

Danbury — Organized  1898. — Revs.  L.  A.  Turner,  1898; 
Mr.  T.  A.  Dungan  (Stu.),  1898;  C  E.  Flayes,  1898- 
99;  H.  C.  Cleveland,  1900;  H.  C.  Halbersleben,  1901-3; 
J.  W.  Mason,  1905 ;  F.  Hall,  1905 — . 

David  City — Organized  1878. — Revs.  M.  A.  Crawford, 
1878;  A.  W.  Curtis,  1879-81;  H.  N.  Gates,  1881-82; 
T.  H.  Avars,  1883-84;  Jas.  Oakey,  i88f^88;  V.  F. 
Clark,  1888-92;  A.  V/.  Ayers,  1892-95;  W.  A. 
Schwimley,  1896-99 ;  H.  J.  Hinman,  1900-1 ;  E.  Booth, 
Jr.,  1902-4;  V.  H.  Ruring,  1905 — . 

DeWitt- — Organized  1874. —  Revs.  F.  Alley,  1874;  F  Good- 
ell,  1876;  D.  J.  Jones,  1877;  J.  Winslow,  1878-79; 
E.  E.  Webber,  1880-81  ;  J.  ^1.  Woodward,  1883;  C.  H. 
Heustis,  1884-86:  D.  E.  Hathaway,  1886-88;  F  T. 
Hull,  1889-90;  J.  E.  Storm,  1891-93;  G.  T.  Tangeman, 
1S94-96;  R.  M.  Travers,  1899-1900;  C.  E.  Campbell, 
1901 ;  M.  J.  Millard,  1902-4;  J.  E.  Storm,  1904-5. 

Dodge — Organized  1887. — Revs.  W.  D.  J.  Stevenson,  1887; 
Mr.  G.  F  Parrish  (Lie.),  1887;  S.  Pearson,  1888-90; 
P.  H.  Hines  (Evan.),  1891-93;  A.  Farnsworth,  1894- 
95;  E.  Cressrnan,  1896;  W.  A.  Davies,  1897-99;  C.  E. 


TABLES  305 

Howard,  1900-2;  A.  C.  Miller.  1902-4;  \V.  S.  Hamp- 
ton,  1905—. 

Doniphan — Organized  1884. — Revs.  I.  C.  Hughe--.  1883- 
84;  1.  n.  Embree,  1885-90;  E.  Cressman,  1891-95; 
R.  M.  Travers,  1896-98;  C.  H.  Heustis,  1 899-1901  ; 
W.  A.  Alcorn,  1902-4;  R.  Jones,  1904 — . 

I^rN.xixt;  —  Organized  1900.  —  Revs.  C.  W.  I'reston. 
1900-4 ;  J.  C.  Noyce,  1904 — . 

Di;sTix— Organized    1S86.— Revs.    G.    W.    Mitchell,    1886; 

E.  H.  Lihbv,  1887;  S.  \\'.  Johnson,  1889;  W.  T.  Wil- 
liams. 1890-93;  J.  J\f.  Kokjer,  1895-99;  O-  ^'-  Kenis- 
ton,  1899;  ^^-  -^-  Hensel,  1900-1 ;  J.  T.  Ellis,  1903-5. 

Eacle— Organized    1885.— Revs.  W.   .S.   Hills,   1886-87;  J- 

F.  Tucker,  1888;  l\.  C.  Preston,  1889;  A.  N.  Dean, 
i8f)0-02;   W.   Haynes,    1892;   S.   P..   Crosby,    1893-94; 

B.  F.  Diffenbacher,  1898-99;  C.  H.  Huestis,  1902. 
Eureka — Organized   1896. — Rev.  J.  H.  Beitle,  1898-1901. 
Eu.'^.Tis — Organized  1S94. — Revs.  O.  E.  Ticknor.   1894-95; 

Mrs.   C.   W.    Preston.    18CJ7-98:   A.   E.    Davies,    1899; 
A.   G.   Axtell,    1900-1;  J.    L.   Fisher,    1902-3;   G.   A. 
Gardner,  1904-5;  C.  M.  Thomas,  1905 — . 
Exeter — (organized  1872. — Revs.  T.  X.  Skinner,  1872-73  ; 

C.  Hibbard.  1874-75;  B.  G.  Page,  187^^78;  B.  A.  Dean, 
1880-83;  M.  L.  Butler,  1883-85;  J.  B.  Gilbert,  1886- 
90;  Wm.  Haynes,  1891  ;  C.  Fl.  Huestis,  1892-99;  H.  C. 
Halbersleben,   1899-1901  ;  \\\  B.  Payne,   1902 — . 

Fairfield — Organized  1873. — Revs.  T.  Pugh,  1872-78;  A. 
Abbott.  1878;  R.  R.  Williams.  1879-83;  C.  E.  Har- 
\vood,  1884-89;  R.  C.  Morse,  1889;  A.  W.  Connett, 
1890;  E.  L.  Sherman,  1891-95;  B.  O.  Snow,  1896-97; 

G.  H.  Hull,  1898^9;  P.  S.  Bandy,  190(^2;  G.  H 
Wright,    1903-;-. 


20 


3o6  CONGRIiGATEONAL  NEBRASKA 

Fa[RMOnt — Organized  1872.— Revs.  A.  Maxwell^  1872;  C. 
Hibbard,  1873-75;  ^-  Cockran,  1876-77;  H.  C.  Aber- 
nethy,  1878-87;  W.  W.  Fellows,  1887;  F.  R.  Bunker, 
1888;  T.  W.  Cole,  1889-91;  A.  A.  Cressman,  1892-95; 
G.  T.  Tangeman,  1896-98;  C.  H.  Beaver,  1899-1905; 
C.  A.  Gleason,  1905 — . 

Fairview  (Dodge) — Organized  1896. — Revs.  D.  Donald- 
son, 1895-96;  W.  A.  Davies,  1897-99;  C.  E.  Howard, 
1900-2. 

Fairview  (Trenton) — Organized  1895. — Revs.  D.  F. 
Bright,  1893-96;  C.  E.  Campbell,  1898-99;  A.  G.  Ax- 
tell,  1902-3 ;  G.  T.  Noyce,  1904 — . 

Earn  AM — Organized  1887. — H.  S.  Snyder  (Stu.),  1887; 
Revs.  W.  Woolman,  1887-89;  J.  B.  Doolittle.  1890- 
92;  E.  E.  Sprague,  1893-97;  E.  W.  Grupe,  1898-99; 
G.  J.  Battey,  1900-2 ;  J.  E.  Craig,  1903 — . 

Franklin — Organized  1873. — Revs.  S.  N.  Grout,  1872- 
80;  J.  M.  Strong,  1880-82;  W.  S.  Hampton,  1882-83; 
C.  S.  Flarrison,  1884-92;  G.  W.  Mitchell,  1892-1902; 
T.  O.  Douglas,   1902—. 

Fremont — Organized  1857. — Revs.  L  E.  Heaton.  1856- 
69;  J.  B.  Chase,  1869-72;  R.  Foster,  1872-75;  G.  Por- 
ter, 1875-78;  A.  T.  Swing,  1878-86;  L.  F.  Berry, 
1886-90;  W.  H.  Buss,  TV890-1901 ;  J.  Doane,  1902 — . 

Friend — Organized  1875. — Revs.  B.  G.  Page,  1874-78;  J. 
Winslow,  1879-83;  O.  C.  Clark,  1883-84;  Sidney 
Strong,  1885-87;  W.  E.  Davidson,  1887;  J.  Sharrett, 
1888;  E.  P.  Dada,  1889-94;  A.  N.  Dean,  1895-96; 
W.  B.  Payne,  1897-1900;  W.  W.  Hart,  19003;  P.  A. 
Sharp,  1903 — . 

Friend  (German)— Organized  1884. — Revs.  E.  Jose,  1883; 
J.  I.ich,  1884-88;  L.  Newman,  1889-90;  F.  Reichardt, 
1891;  P.  Lich,  1892-95;  G.  EssLg-,  1896-97;  G.  L. 
Brakemeyer,  1898-1904;  W.  F.  Vogt,  1904-5. 


TABLES  307 

Gkneva — Organized  1886. — J<cvs.  ( ;.  A.  Taylor,  1886;  H. 
S.  Wannaniaker,  1887-90;  H.  J.  Zerker,  1890-92;  J.  E. 
Brereton,  1893-95;  P.  H.  Hines,  i8()6;  T.  Griffiths, 
1897-. 

Gknoa — Organized  1882. — I\e\s.  J-  P.  Dyas,  1879-82;  C. 
H.  Crawford,  1883;  O.  C.  Todd,  1884-85;  U.  C.  Bos- 
worth,  1887-88;  R.  KilHp.  1889;  C.  W.  Turrell  (M. 
E.),  1890-91;  J.  S.  VanAlstine,  1892-93;  N.  E.  Gard- 
ner, 1894;  C.  A.  Richardson,  1895-96;  H.  J.  Hinman-, 
1897-99;  W.  Hauptman,  1900;  R.  Rein,  1901 ;  C.  M. 
Lowe,   1902-4;  A.  J.  Iden,   1905. 

Gf.rmaxtov/n — Organized  1900. — Revs.  S.  Anderson, 
1902 ;  G.  L.  Brakemeyer,  1904 — . 

GF.R^rANTOv.x  (German) — Revs.  F.  W'oth,  1890-99;  C. 
Richert,  1899-1901 ;  J.  B.  Happel,  1902-3 ;  G.  L.  Brake- 
meyer, 1904 — . 

Grafton— Organized  i878.~Revs.  W.  S.  Hills,  1878;  B. 
A.  Dean,  1879;  J.  B.  Doolittle,  1880-87:  J.  E.  Herbert, 
1887-88;  F.  C.  Baker  (Stu.),  1889;  E.  H.  Baker, 
1889-93;  J.  PI.  Andress,  1894-95:  A.  A.  Cressman, 
1896-97;  J.  PI.  Andress,  1898-99;  C.  S.  Harrison, 
1900;  E.  \\'.  Altvater,  1901-2;  C.  L.  Hammond,  1903 — . 

Grand  Island — Organized  1887. — Revs.  D.  W.  Comstock, 
1887-88;  W.  L.  Demorest,  1888;  J.  Doane,  1889-92; 
J.  H.  Henderson,  1893;  T.  W.  Cole,  1894;  H.  M. 
Evans,  1896;  G.  j.  Battey,  1897-98;  E.  V.  Gardner, 
1890-1900;  A.  A.  Cressman,  1901-4;  L.  J.  ]\Iarsh, 
1904—. 

Grant— Organized  1887.— Revs.  J-  A.  Thome,  1887-88; 
M.  H.  Wallace,  1889;  W.  S.  Hampton,  1889-91 ;  G.  S. 
Brett,  1892;  G.  D.  Tangeman,  1893:  G.  W.  Knapp, 
1894-98;  O.  L.  Anderson,  1899;  J.  Crocker,  1900-2; 
F.  Barnard,  1905 — . 


308  CONGRIiGATlOXAL   NEBRASKA 

Hai.lam    (German) — Organized    1893. — Revs.   J.    Morach, 

1893-96;  R.  Hilkerbaeumer,  1897-1902;  E.  L.  Hobein, 

1903—. 
Haubine — Organized    1889. — Revs.    J.    R.    Cooper,    1890- 

92;  J.   B.   Doolittle,    1893-94;   G.   J.   Battey,   1895-97;' 

A.  L.  Brown,   1898;  J.  A.  Jones,  iScjg;  G.  R.  Martin, 

1900-1 ;  J.  E.  Ston^i,  1902-4;  A.  W.  Nevill,  1904 — . 
HxVRVARD— Organized   1872. — Revs.  B.  F.  Haviland.   1873; 

J.  Gray,  1874-76;  H.  P.  Page,  1877-79;  G.  E.  Taylor, 

188(^83;  E.  Sonthworth,  1883-88;  G.  R.  Parish.  1888- 

89;  O.  V.  Rice,  1889-91  ;  W.  O.  Wark,  1892-94;  R.  S. 

Osgood,  i89!^-99;  A.  R.  Rogers,  1900;  A.  A.  Brown, 

1901-3 ;  VV.  S.  Hunt,  1904 — . 
Hastings — Organized  1872. — Revs.  B.  F.  Haviland,  1873; 

M.   F.   Piatt,   1874-75;  J.   Winslow,    1876-77;  A.   W. 

Curtis.  1878;  J.  D.  Stewart,  1879-83;  H.  Wilson,  1883- 

84;  G.  R.  Milton,  1885;  Wm.  Walters,  1886-91  ;  F.  S. 

Powell,    1892-93;    S.    S.    Healey,    1894;    L.    P.    Rose, 

1895-97;  J.  W.  Nelson,  1898-1901  ;  T.  C.  Hunt,  1901- 

4;  PL  R.  Harrison,  1905 — . 
Hastiis^gs    (German) — Organized    1890. — Revs.    G.    Grob, 

1890-91;  P.  O.  R.  Ouarder,  1892-93;  G.  W^  Goerlitz, 

1894;  C.   W.   Wuerrschmidt,    1895-1904;   P.  J.   Thiel. 

1904—. 
Han'elock — Organized    1892. — Revs.    C.    E.    Enlow,    1892- 

93;  S.  Wood.  1893-97;  J-  E.  McHenry,  1897-99;  R.  B. 

Graham    (Pres.),     1900-1  ;    R.    W.    Burton,    1902-4; 

I.  McRae,  1904 — . 
Hayes  County  (German) — Organized  1886. — Revs.  W.  F. 

Vogt,    1897-98;   G.   Essig,    1899-1901 ;   G.  L.   Henkel- 

mann,  1902 — . 
Hay  Springs — Organized  1885. — Revs.  B.  F.  Diffenbacher, 

1885-88;   S.  Deakin,   1888-93;  W.  P.   Peas,    1894^8; 

B.  H.  Jones,  1898-1900;  D.  G.  Curry,  1900-1  ;  G.  W. 

Knapp,   1902 — . 


r.\i;i.i:s  309 

Hi:.\riXGFoR» — Ori^anized     i88(). — Ro\'s.     X.     E.     (iardncr. 

i88rh-{;o;   C.    M.   Thomas    (Stii.),    i8<)0;   \V.    Wicdcn- 

hoeft,   1890-93;  E.    1'.   Dada.   1894-;/);  E.  E.  Ercston. 

1896-97;    (i.    J.    liattev.    1898-19C0:    X..   E.    (Iardncr. 

1901-2;  J.  II.  Embrco.  1903 — . 
Highlands — Or^anizcil    1905. — Rev.  \\'.   H.   Ecdlar,    1905. 
IIii.DRKTd— Orijanized   1891. — Revs.  C.   H.  Ilucstis.   1890- 

9r  :  W.  P.  Peas.  1893-^)4;  S.  I.  Ihv-vr,  1895-96;  O.  E. 

Ticknor,    1897-98;   W.   II.    Lel>ar.    1899-1900;   G.   T. 

Xovce,  1901-04;  G.  I.  Reeves,   1905 — . 
Hu'.DRKGE — Orpranizcd   1883. — Revs.  W.  H.   Forbes,    1883- 

85:  V.  F.  Clark.   1892-96;  A.  E.  Squire.  1897;  F.  F. 

Lewis.   1898-T901  :  T.  A.   Stubens,   1901  ;  Miss  A.  E. 

Switzer,    1902-3;  J.   F.   Lansborough,    1904-5;   C.   \\\ 

Duncan,    1905 — . 
HowEixs— Organized   1887.— ^[r.  J.  Dunlai)  (Stu.).  1887; 

G.  Parrish  (Lie),  1887;  Revs.  S.  Pearson.  i888-(;i  ;  P. 

H.  Hines  (Evan.).  1892;  A.  L.  Brown,  1893;  A.  Farns- 

worth.    1894-96;   E.    Cressman,    1896;   \\\   A.    Davies. 

1897-1900;   A.    C.    IMiller.    1902-4;   W.    S.    Hampton. 

1905—. 
HvAXXis — Organized  1889.— Mr.  M.  W.  \\'illiams  (Stu.), 

1890;   Revs.    J.    B.    Brown.    1890-94;    O.    li.    Ticknor 

1895;  E.  E.  Preston,  1896:  B.  H.  Jones,  1897;  H.- C. 

Cleveland.    1898-1900;   J.    E.    Storm.    1900-2;   W.    D. 

King,  1903-5:  W.  T.  Hadsei.  i(;o5 — . 

Indi.\n  Creek   (Red  Cloud) — Organized   1897. — Revs.   F. 

W.  Dean.   1898-190T  ;  ^^^   Hauptman.    1902-3;   (].  H. 

Rice,   T904 — . 
IxDiAxoLA — Organized    1875. — Revs.    T.    Pugh.    1878;    A. 

Dresser,  1870-82;  G.  Dungan.  1882-84:  G.  E.  Taylor, 

i88fV88;  J.  Flook.  i888-<)2;  C.  D.  Gearhart.  189^-94; 

.\.    S.   Housti>n.    i8(;5-07:   L.    A.   Turner,    1 897-1900; 


310  %»  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

J.    S.    Calhoun,    1900;    H.    C.    Halbersleben,    1901-3; 

N.   H.   Hawkins,    1903 — . 
Inland  (German) — Organized  1876. — Revs.  E.  Jose,  1881- 

84;  G.  F.  Stiiecklin,  1884-85;  G.  Grob,  188(^3;  P.  O. 

R.  Onarder,  1893;  G.  W.  Goerlitz,  1894;  C.  W.  Wuerr- 

schmidt,  1895-1902;  J.  Smit,  1904 — . 
Irvington — Organized  1866. — Revs.  E.  B.  Hurlbut,  1865- 

70;  J.  J.  A.  T.   Dixon,   1871 ;  A.  Fitch,   1874;  J.  G. 

Spencer,  1875-81;  J.  P.  Preston,  1882-86;  J.  T.  Otis, 

1887-93;  G.  T.  Noyce,  1893;  B.  O.  Snow,   1894-96; 

H.    C.    Halbersleben,    1896-99 ;    A.    L.    Brown,    1899- 

1900;    B.    F.    Diffenbacher,    1900-4;    G.    H.    Rawson, 

1904—. 

Kearney — Organized  1872. — Revs.  L.  B.  Fifield,  1872-78; 

W.   L.   Camp,   1878;  A.   D.   Adams,   1879-80;  T.   H. 

Avars,  1880-83;  Mr.  Fisk  (Stu.),  1883;  J.  Askin,  1885- 

93;  T.  H.  Hoffman,  1893;  T.  Powers,   1894-96;  J.  P. 

Burling.    1897-1900;  J.   J.    Parker,    1901-2 ;  J.   Flook, 

1903—. 
Keystone  (Looniis) — Organized  1896. — Revs.  G.  M.  Ken- 

iston,    1898-99 ;    J.    H.    Embree,    1900-3 ;    J.    Croker, 

1904—. 
Keystone     (Bertha) — Organized     1900. — Mr.    E.     Bacon 

(Stu.),  1898;  Mr.  W.^H.  Flotze  (Stu.),  1899;  Mr.  C. 

A.  Javne  (Stu.),  igoo;  T.  Jones  (Stu.),  1903-4. 

Leigh — Organized  1887. — Mr.  J.  Dunlap   (Stu.),  1887;  G. 

Parrish  (Lie),  1887-88;  Mr.  O.  Ostrum.  (Stu.),  1888; 

Revs.   R.   M.   Travers,    1889-92;   F.    S.    Perry,    1892; 

A.  G.  Washington,  1893-94;  J.  Lange,  1895-99;  J.  F. 

Smith,  1899-1905. 
Liberty    Creek    (Deweese) — Organized    1896. — Revs.    P. 

Lich.  1895-98;  J.  B.  Happle,  1899-1900;  W.  F.  Vogt, 

1901-3  ;  J.  Smit,  1905 — . 


TAl'.I.KS  3'^ 

Lincoln  (First)— Organized  1866.— Revs.  C.  Little,  186&- 
69;  L.  B.  Fifield,  1870-72;  S.  R.  Dimmock,  1873-75; 
L.  Gregory,  1875-99;  Wir..  Manss,  1899-1903;  J.  E. 
Tiittle,  1903—. 

Lincoln  (Plvmouth)— Organized  1887.— Revs.  E.  S.  Rals- 
ton. 1887-91;  N.  IMass,  1891-93;  J.  Doane,  1893- 
11)02;  C.  R.  Hamlin,  1902-4;  C.  H.  Rogers,  1904—. 

Lincoln  (German)— Organized  1889.— Revs.  H.  H.  Sal- 
lenbach.  1875-86;  J.  B.  Cnnz,  1880-81;  A.  Trandt, 
1888;  J.  Lich,  i889-(:.7;  C.  E.  Osthoff,  1898-1900; 
G.  L.  Henkelmann,  1900-2;  J.  Lich,  1902—. 

Lincoln  (Vine  Street)— Organized  1890.— Mr.  J.  E. 
Hunter  (Stn.),  1890;  Revs.  H.  S.  Wannamaker,  1890- 
93 ;  A.  F.  Newell,  1893-99 ;  M.  A.  Ikillock,  1899—. 

Lincoln  (Bntler  Avenue)— Organized  1895.— Revs.  A.  F. 
Newell,  i895-<)9;  O.  L.  Anderson,  1899-1900;  Miss 
L.  a.  Wild,'  1901-5 ;  C.  W.  Preston,  1905—. 

Lincoln  (Swedish)— Organized  1895.— Revs.  J.  M.  Till- 
berg,  1893-96;  J.  Johnson,  1897-98;  C.  E.  Peterson, 
1899-1901  ;  J.  E.  Swanson,  1902-4;  A.  Poison.  1905—. 

Lincoln    (Zion)— Organized   1900.— Rev.   S.  H.   Schwab, 

1901 — .  • 
Lincoln      (Salem)— Organized     1899.— Rev.     A.     Suffa, 

1901 — . 
LiNwooD— Organized    1873.— Revs.   A.  Dresser,    1873-78; 

B.   Beal,    1880-83:   AL  J.   P.   Thing,    1884-87;  J.   O. 

Tasker,  1887-92;  H.  C.  Halbersleben,  1892-96;  W.  A. 

Davies,   1896-98;  F-  G.  Appleton,   1898-1900;  R.   M. 

Sargent,  1901-2;  Mrs.  M.  J.  Dickenson,  1902—. 
Long  Pine— Organized  1884.— Revs.  N.  L.  Packard,  1884; 

J.  A.  Milligan,  1884-86;  S.  I.  Hanford,  1887-91 ;  Wm. 

Walters,   1892-93;  J.   S.  VanAlstine,   1894-95;   T.   H. 

Andress,   1896;  J.  E.  Storm,   1897-98;  E.  Booth,  Jr.. 

1899-1901;  Wm.  Haresnape,  1901-3 ;  Mr.  A.  Mygatt 

(Stu.),  1904;  M.  Weidmp-.  1905—. 


312  CONGREGATIONAL   NEBRASKA 

LooMis — Org-anized  1898. — Revs.  G.  M.  Keniston,  1898- 
1900 ;  J.  H.  Embree,  1900-3 ;  J.  Croker,  1904 ;  W.  E. 
Hannan,   1905 ;  C.  M.  Thomas,   1905 — . 

Madrid — Organized  1889. — Revs.  H.  B.  Fry,  1889-93;  G. 

W.    Knapp,    1894-98;    O.    L.    Anderson,    1898-99;   J. 

Croker,  1900-4;  F.  Barnard,  1905 — . 
Mat'le    Creek — Organized    1 891. —Revs.    C.    B.    Fellows, 

1890-91 ;  A.  G.  Washington,  1892 ;  F.  O.  Hellier,  1893  ; 

H.  M.  Lyman,  1894-96;  J.  J.  Klopp,  1898—. 
McCooK — Organized   1884.— Revs.   G.  W.  Dungan,    1882- 

86;  J.   S.  Kelsey,  1886-90;  W.  C.  Stephenson,   1891- 

93 ;  H.  L.  Preston,  1894-97 ;  W.  J.  Turner,  1898-1902 ; 

F.    W.    Dean,    1902-4;    G.    A.    Conrad,    1904;    G.    B. 

Hawkes,  1905 — . 
McCooK    (German) — Organized  1887. — Revs.  Wm.  Suess, 

1887-89;  H.  Buettner.    1889-92;  E.  T.  Bettex,   1892; 

A.  Hodel,  1893-96;  W.  F.  Vogt,   1897-99;  G.  Essig, 

1899-190.2;  G.  L.  Henkelmann,  1902—. 
MiLFORD — Organized    1869. — Revs.    T.    N.    Skinner,    1869- 

71;  H.  A.  French,  1872-83;  S.  G.  Lamb,  1883-90;  G. 

S.  Biscoe,   1890-91;  R.   M.   Travers,   1892-94;  G.  A. 

Monroe,  1895-1900;  J.  Jefferies,   1901-2;  G.  R.  Mar- 
tin, 1903 ;  F.  Wrigley,  1904-5. 
MiNERSViLLE — Organized   1893.— Revs.   A.   Dresser,    1893- 

95;  J-  L.  Fisher,  1896-97;  G.  B.  Spangler,  1898-1901  ; 

J.  Jefferies,    1902 — . 
Monroe — Organized   1869. — Revs.   J.   B.   Chase,    1868-70; 

J.  E.  Elliot,  1870-73;  C.  C.  Starbuck,  1875-79;  J-  P- 

Dyas,    1880-82;   H.  C.   Crawford,    1883;  Q.   C.   Todd. 

1884-86;  U.  C.  Bosworth,   1887-88;  R.  Killip,   1888- 

89;  R.  W.  Gammon,  1890;  G.  B.  Clark,  189 1  ;  H.  A. 

Shmiian,    1892-98;    W.    A.    Davies,    1900-1 ;    C.    M. 

Lowe,    1902;   W.    F.    Benjamin,    1903;    G.    O.    Heide 

(Bapt.),  190-1—- 


TAlil.KS  3^3 

MuKNiXG  Star     (()i;alalla) — (^ri^anizcu     i^jft. — T.    Jones 

(Stu.),  1903-4- 
Afoi'i.TON — Orc^anizcfl  1905. — Rev.  J.  C.  Xoyce,   1905 — . 
^klL-MPKR— Organixed  1901.— Mr.  J.  W.  Ellis  (Stu.),  1901  : 

Rev.  J.  C.  Xoyce,  1901-3. 

Xaimkk  (German; — Organized  1893. — Revs.  J.  Single, 
1898-1901  ;  H.  J.  Dietrick,  1901-93;  H.  Hess,  1903 — . 

Xai'IER — Organized  1899. — Revs.  W.  A.  Ilensel,  1900-4; 
J.  T.  Ellis,  1904-5. 

Xaponei:-— Org-anized  1881.— Revs.  W.  Marshal.  1881-83; 
.\.  X.  Dean.  1884;  \Vm.  Woolman,  1885-88;  G.  L. 
Dickenson.  1889;  S.  A.  Pettit,  i8()(^93;  A.  E.  Ricker, 
18(^-95;  W.  S.  Hills.  1896-98;  H.  C.  Cleveland, 
1900-2;  W.  C.  .\rcher,  1902-3;  T.  D}ke,  1904;  J.  H. 
Beitle,  1905 — . 

Xkligh — Organized  1875. — Revs.  H.  Griffiths,  1874-81  ; 
J.  Woodruff,  1882;  A.  F.  Marsh,  1882-87;  J.  W. 
Davies,  1888-90;  W.  J.  Turner,  1891-93;  J.  T.  Ellis. 
1893-0)4;  J.  P.  Bacon,  1 894-1900;  F.  V.  Moslander, 
1900-3 ;  Y.  F.  Clark,  1903 — . 

XiocRARA — Organized  1905. — Rev.  A.  Frazier,   1905 — . 

Xkwca.sile — Organized  1884. — Revs.  G.  W.  Mitchell, 
1884-85;  Wm.  J.  Paske,  1886-88;  J.  Roberts.  1888- 
98;  G.  H.  Rice,  1898-99;  I.  McRae.  1900-2;  G.  W. 
.Schroeder,  1903-4;  J.  Roberts,  1905 — . 

Xewmax  Grove — Organized  1900. — Revs.  C.  D.  Gear- 
hart.  190C-2;  E.  L.  Wismer,  1903-4;  H.  L.  Preston, 
1905. 

Xoiuj-:  (Indianola) — Organized  i8'99. — Revs.  L.  A.  Turner, 
1900;  J.  C.  Calhoun,  1900-2:  X'.  H.  Hawkins.  1904 — . 

XoRFOLK  (First) — Organized  1870. — Revs.  T.  W.  Kidder, 
1870-78;  M.  H.  Mead,  1878-81;  J.^  W.  Laughlin 
(Stu.),  1881;  J.  G.  Spencer,  1882-84;  J.  J.  Parker. 
1885-1901  ;  W,  J.  Turner,  1901 — . 


3f4  CUNGKKGATIONAL  NEIiRASKA 

Norfolk  (Second) — Organized  1893. — Revs.  A.  Farns- 
worth,  1893-94;  J.  Jefferies,  1896^1901;  F.  Baker, 
1901-2  ;  Wm.  Haresnape,  1903 — . 

Ogalai.la — Organized  1884. — Revs.  L.  E.  Brown,  1884- 
85;  J.  A.  Thome,  T88i>-88;  A.  E.  Ricker,  1888-91; 
Mr.  J.  R.  Danforth  (Stu.),  1890;  W.  P.  Peas,  1891- 
93;  W.  S.  irampton,  1893-97;  F-  S.  Perry,  1898;  G. 
W.  Knapp,  1898-1902;  J.  Watson,  1902;  C.  W.  Dun- 
can,  1903-05. 

Or.TVE  Branch  (German) — Organized  1875. — Revs.  Wm. 
Siiess,  1877-85;  G.  Scheuerle,  1885-86;  J.  Morach, 
1887-95 ;  Wm.  Fritzemeier,  1895 ;  Wm.  Suess,  1896 — . 

Omaha  (First) — Organized  1856. — Revs.  R.  Gaylord, 
1855-6.J.;  W.  W.  Rose,  1865-67;  E.  S.  Palmer,  1867- 
69;  A.  F.  Sherrili,  1869-88;  J.  T.  Dnryea,  1888-95; 
F.  A.  Warfield,  1896-98;  H.  C.  Herring,  1898 — . 

Omaha  fSt.  Mary's  Avenue) — Organized  1S83. — Revs.  W. 
Scott,  1 883-9 T ;  S.  W.  Butler,  1S92-99;  C.  S.  Sargent, 
1900-1 ;  R.  Yost,  1902-5 ;  C.  O.  Baird,  1905 — . 

Ojmaiea  (Plymouth) — Organized  1885. — Revs.  G.  S.  Pel- 
ton,  1883-86;  A.  B.  Penniman,  1886-88;  A.  R.  Thain, 
1889-94;  J.  A.  Fisher,  1894;  H.  S.  MacAyeal,  1895-99; 
F.  A.  Hatch,  1900-3 ;  A.  J.  Folsom,  1904 — . 

Omaha  (Saratoga) — Organized  1886. — Revs.  J.  A.  Milli- 
gan,  1887-88;  F.  S.  Forbes,  1888;  H.  N.  Smith,  1889- 
90;  G.  A.  Conrad,  1891-93;  E.  L.  Ely,  1894-96;  L.  S. 
Hand,  1896-1900;  F.  E.  Henry,  1900-4;  B.  F.  Diffen- 
bacher,  1904 — . 

Omaha  (German) — Organized  1885. — Rev.  F.  H.  W. 
Bruechert,   1885. 

Omaha  (Cherry  Hill)— Organized  1886.— Revs.  J.  A.  Mil- 
ligan,  1887-91 ;  W.  A.  Lipe,  1891 ;  E.  L.  Ely,  1894-96; 
L.  S.  Hand,  1896-1900;  T.  A.  Williams,  1900-1 ;  P. 
A.  Sharp,  1901-3 ;  H.  L.  Mills,  1903-4;  W.  D.  King, 
1905—. 


TAHI,KS  315 

L>.MAiiA  ( llillsi(lc) — Urj^ani/.cil   i88<  .  -]\t.'\s.  II.  C  Crane, 

1886-90;  H.  H.  Morse,  1890;  A.  H.  Ross,  1891 ;  G.  J. 

rowcll,  1892-95;  J.  Flook,  1895-1900;  H.  G.  Crok-cr, 

1902 ;  W.  F.  IBergcr,  1903 ;  II.  L.  Mills,  1904 — . 
Omaha  (Park  Vale)— Organized  1887. — Revs.  M.L.Holt, 

1887-90;  A.  Torbet,  1890;  W.  J.  Paske,  1891-93:  W. 

H.  LeBar,  1895-96;  F.  H.   Anderson,   1897-1900;  T. 

A.    Williams,    1900-1 ;    P.    A.    Sharp,    1901-2;    H.    L. 

Mills,  T903-4;  W.  D.  King,  1905 — . 

Paislky     (Unadilla)— Organized   1892. — Revs.  Thos  Bell, 

1893-96;    D.    K.    Miller,    1897-1900;    H.    W.    Cope, 

1900-2  ;  C.  L.  Myers,  1903  ;  C.  E.  Buck  (M.E.),  1904 — . 
Pai.isaim: — Organized  1889. — Revs.  Wm.  Woolman,  1889- 

90;  J.  H.  Beitel,  i8gi-<)4;  T.  C.  Moffatt,  1894-97;  H. 

C.  Halbersleben,  1904 — . 
Pakk     (Elgin) — Organized      1885. — Revs.      H.      Griffiths, 

1885-87;  B.  F.  Pearson,  1888-91;  A.C.  Tueber,  1891- 

92;  C.  D.  Thompson,  1893-95;  C.  H.  Kershaw,  1896- 

97:  W.  Debenhani,   1898;  O.  E.  Ticknor.   1899-1900; 

J.  Roberts,  1901-5. 
PETER.SBURG — Organized    1^)4. — Revs.    T.    Griffiths.    1895- 

97;  S.  Eveland,  1898;  J.  Roberts,   1 898-190 1  ;  R.  M. 

Travers,  190 1-3 ;  J.  M.  Kokjer,  1903-5. 
PiCKRELL— Organized  1886.— Revs.  H.  Bates,  1885-87;  H. 

C.  Halbersleben,  1888-89;  ^^-  J-  Battey,  1891-93;  F.  G. 

McHenry.  1893-96;  E.  E.  Sprague,  1898;  Geo.  Scott, 

1899-1900;  H.  Langley,  1902;  J.  S.  Medlin  (M.  E.), 

1903;  R.  E.  Pogue  (M.  E.),  1904-5. 
P I F.RCE— Organized  1883.— Mr.  ]■  W.  Brooks  (Stu.),  1882: 

Revs.  E.  P.  Dada.  1884-85:  D.  J.  Baldwin.   1886-88; 

W.  J.  Paske,  188S-91 ;  A.  G.  Brande.  1891-95;  C.  D. 

Gearhart,  1896-1900;  G.  E.  Taylor,  1900 — . 
PiXE  Camf — Organized  1905. — Mr.  Albert  Mygatt  (Stn.), 

1905—. 


3l6  CDNGKEGATIONAL  NEBRASKxY 

Plainview — Organized   1903. — Rev.  J.  J.   Parker,   1903 — . 

Plymouth  ist. — Organized  1872.- — Revs.  H.  Bales,  1872- 
78;  J.  Winslow,  1878;  E.  E.  Webber,  1880;  S.  C. 
Dean,  1882-85;  D.  E.  Hathaway,  1886;  E.  Cressman, 
1888;  L.  B.  Wharton,  1889;  J.  Cooper,  1890;  J.  B.  Doo- 
kttle,  1893;  G.  J.  Battey,  1895-97;  A.  L.  Brown,  1898; 
J.  A.  Jones,  1898-1900;  G.  R.  Martin,  1900-1  ;  J.  E. 
Storm,  1902-4;  A.  W.  Nevill,  1904 — . 

Princeton  (German)  —  Organized  1875.  —  Revs.  G. 
Schenerle,  1S84-86;  J.  Morach,  1887^)7;  R.  Hilker- 
baenmer,    1897- 1903  ;  F.   Gafert,   1904 — . 

Ravenna — Organized  1886.— Mr.  Barstow  (Stu.),  1886; 
Revs.  R.  M.  Travers,  1886-88;  C.  B.  Taylor,  1888-89; 
Wm.  Flaynes,  1889-90;  J.  B.  Gilbert,  1891^2;  T.  W. 
Cole,  1893-94;  F.  W.  Peas,  1895-99;  C.  J.  Sage,  1899- 
1901  :  A.  C.  Townsend,  1901-3;  S.  H.  Buell,  1903 — . 

Red  Cloud — Organized  1874. — Revs.  A.  Maxwell,  1874- 
79;  Geo.  Bent.  1879-82;  O.  C.  Todd,  1882-84;  J.  G. 
Aikman.  1885-86:  M.  C.  Butler,  188(^88;  C.  E.  Tag- 
gart,  1889-91:  E.  L.  Ely,  1891-94:  H.  O.  Spellman, 
i8(H-95;  O-  E.  Ticknor,  1896-98;  F.  W.  Dean,  1898- 
1902 ;  W.  Hauptman,  1902-3  :  G.  H.  Rice,  1904 — . 

Reno— Organized  1891.— Mr.  M.  W.  Williams  (Stu.), 
1890;  Revs.  J.  B.  Brown,  1890-95:  E.  E.  Preston. 
i8c)6-98;  G.  J.  Battey,  1899-1900:  J.  B.  Brown, 
1901-2;  J.  H.  Enibree,  1903 — . 

Rising  City — Organized  1875. — Mr.  E.  T.  Lee  (Stu.), 
1881;  Revs.  J.  E.  Storm,  1883-85;  J.  C.  Otis,  1887; 
W.  P.  Peas,  1887^1:  F.  C.  Cockran,  1891^4;  C.  J. 
Sage,  i894-<;.7:  J.  L.  Fisher,  1898-1900;  H.  A.  Shu- 
man,  1900-2:  F.  G.  Appleton,  1903-4;  T.  Jones  (Stu.), 
1904-5. 

RiVERTON — Organized  1874. — Revs.  S.  X.  Grout,  1875-79  • 
J.  M\  Strong,  1879-82;  O.  C.  Todd,  1882-83;  F-  Bar- 


lAin.i-.s  317 

])cr.  i8S3-!^f);  W.  S.  1  Jaiiipion,  uS8f)-88;  1).  \V.  Coin- 
stock.  i88();  1.  W  .  IhuUlen,  1890;  F.  Lawson,  1891-94; 
S.  Williams,  1 894-1905. 

RoKKiJV — Organized  1893. — Revs.  J.  Doane.  1803-1900; 
Miss  L.  A.  Wild,  1901-2. 

RoSEFiKi.i)  (Trenton) — Organized  1890. — Revs.  C  E. 
Campbell,  1898;  (.',.  K.  Lincr)ln,  1809-1900;  G.  T. 
Xoyce,  1904 — . 

Santee — Organized      1836. — Revs.      Artemas      Khnamani, 

1867-1902;  F.  Frazier,  1902 — . 
Sargent — Organized    i8t)3. — Revs.  J.   V.   Smith.    i8o3-(j5; 

C.  F.  Howard,  1897-1900;  Jl  H.  Jones,  1900-1 ;  J.  H. 

and  Ah-s.  llelser.  1901-2;  S.  A.  Van  Lnven,  1904 — . 
ScRU'.XER — Organized    1871. — Revs.    W.    Bruce,    1869-77; 

.\.  L.  Seward,  1878-79;  A.  Doremns,   1879-So;  M.  li. 

Harrison,  1881 — . 
Sexkca — Organized    1904. — Mrs.    C.    W.    Preston    (Lie), 

1904-5. 
Skwari) — Organized    1887. — Revs.    A.    AL    Darley,    1887; 

J.  A.  Dobson.    1888-90;   G.  A.   Ray,    1891-92;  C.   B. 

Carlisle.    1893-94;    T.    W.    C.    Cheeseman,    1896-97; 

E.  C.  Burhans,  1898-1900;  F.  W.  Feavitt,  1903 — . 
Shickley^ Organized  1887. — Revs.  J.  G.  Robertson,  1887; 

C.  H.  Eaton,  18S7;  F.  L.  Fly,  1889^1  ;  F.  Fox,  1891  ; 

E.  Martin,  1892;  G.  J.  Battey,  1893-95;  W.  R.  Griffith, 

1897;  A.  L.  Squire,   1898;  W.  A.  Alcorn,  1899-1901  ; 

E.  A\'.  Altvater,  1901-2 ;  C.  L.  FTammond,  1903 — . 
Silver   Creek — Organized    1874. — Revs.    C.    C.    Starbuck, 

1878;   J.   P.   Dyas,    1880-82;    M.    H.    Mead,    1883-85; 

J.   Roberts.   1886-88;   W.   H.   Houston,    1888-89;   ^^i". 

E.  L.  Alarsh   (Stu.),  1889;  H.  C.  Halbersleben,  1890- 

92;  L  ].  (jardner,  1892;  N.  E.  Gardner,  1893-94;  Mr. 

W.  B.Allis   (Stu.).   1890;  Mrs.  E.  B.   Perkins,   1895- 


31 8  CONGREGATEONAL  NEBRASKA 

97;  W.  S.  Hampton,  1898-1900;  W.  A.  Davis,  1901-2; 

N.  E.  Gardner,  1903-4 ;  G.  W.  Mitchell,  1905—. 
South    Platte    (Doniphan) — Organized    1894. — Revs.    C. 

H.   Huestis,    1 899-190 1 ;   J.   L.   Cross    (Stu.),   W.   A. 

Alcorn,  1902-4;  R.  Jones,  1904 — . 
Spencer — Organized    1891. — Revs.    W.    Loney,    1893-95; 

W.  A.  Hensel,  1896;  G.  Wadsworth,  1897-99;  G.  R. 

Martin,    1899-1900;   F.    Pile,    1901-2;   W.   J.    Isaacs, 

1903—. 
Springfield — Organized  1878. — Revs.  J.  B.  Gilbert,  1882- 

85;  E.  P.  Dada,   1886-89;  M.  J.  P.  Thing,  1889-91; 

W.  Radford,  1891-94;  J.  E.  Storm,  1894-97;  E.  Cress- 
man,    1897-1900;  J.   Foster,    1901-2;   H.   M.   Triplett, 

1902 — . 
Springview — Organized  1887. — Revs.  J.  E.  Power,   1887- 

89;  Mr.  J.  D.  Hoffman  (Stu.),  1889;  J.  W.  Hadden, 

1891-93;  J.  S.  Van  Alstine,  1894-95;  S.  Eveland,  1896; 

J.    Kokjer,    1897-1900;    W.    A.    Hensel,    1900;    Wm. 

Haresnape,  1901-2  ;  E.  B.  Sikes,  1904 — . 
Stanton — Organized  1870. — Revs.  J.  W.  Kidder,  1870-78; 

.M.  H.  Mead,  1878-82;  J.  W.  Laughlin  (Stu.),  1881 ; 

W.   B.  Dada,  1882-86;  T.  Kent,   1887;  F.  D.  Green, 

1888-89;  C.  B.  Fellows,  1889-92;  A.  G.  Washington, 

1892-93;  F.  O.  Hellier,  1893-94;  H.  M.  Lyman,  1894- 

96;  J.'j.  Klopp,  1898-. 
Steele  Ciiy — Organized  1872. — Revs.  S.  C.  Dean,  1872- 

82;  E.  Cressman,  1882-86;  H.  J.  Macomber,  1887-88; 

E.  Durant,  1889-91;  D.  W.  Comstock,  1891-92;  Z.  K. 

Heinzman,    1893-94;    H.    H.    Avery,    1 894-1 902 ;    E. 

Cressnian,  1901-4 ;  A.  W.  Nevill,  1904 — . 
Stockham      (German)- — Organized  1884. — Revs.  G.  Grob, 

1888-90;  M.  Trieber,  1890-91;  J.  Bruse,  1893-94;  R. 

Hilkerbaeumer,    1894-97;    G.    Essig,    1898;    G.    Grob, 

1899 — . 


TAIU.ICS  3  ■  9 

Stockville — Organizetl    i8go. — Mr.    II.    F.    Gilt    (Stu.) 

1888;   Revs.   A.   C.   Bartlctt,    1893-97;   A.   G.   Axtell, 

1900-3 ;  J.  E.  Craig,  1903—. 
Strang — Organized   1886. — Revs.   G.  Taylor,   1886;  J.  G. 

Robertson,  1887;  C.  H.  Eaton,  1887;  E.  L.  Ely,  1889- 

91;   F.    Fox,    1891;   E.    Martin,    1892;    G.   J.    Battey, 

1893-95;  W.  R.  Griffiths,   1897;  A.  L.  Squire,   1898; 

W.  A.  Alcorn,  1899-1902;  D.  E.  Thomas  (Stu.).  1903; 

M.  J.  Alillard,  1904—. 
Superior     (German) — Organized    1893. — Revs.    F.    Bren- 

necke,  1894-96;  P.  Lich,  180)7-98;  J.  B.  Happel,  1899- 

1901 ;  W.  F.  Vogt,  1 90 1. 
Sutton — Organized  1872. — Revs.  D.  B.  Perry,  1872;  C.  H. 

Hibbard,  1873;  J.  Gray,  1874-77;  C.  F.  Graves,  1878- 

80;  Geo.  Scott,  1881-83;  E.  H.  Baker,  1883-86;  H.  B. 

Fry,  1887-88;  F.  C.  Cockran,  1889-01  ;  J.  Flook,  1892- 

95;  F.  D.  Jackson,  1896-97;  J.  B.  Loscy,  1898-1902; 

T.  A.  Dungan,  1903 — . 
Sutton     (German) — Organized     1880. — Revs.     E.     Jose, 

1880-83;    H.    Bentz,    1884-87;   M.   Treiber,    1888-91; 

J.   H.    Schlechter,    1892;   J.   Bruse,    1893;   R.   Hilker- 

baeumer,  1894-97;  G.  Essig,  1897-99;  G.  Grob,  1899 — • 
Syracuse — Organized  1871. — Revs.  J.  Hall,  1875-76;  J.  M. 

F.  Chessington,   1877-78;  H.   S.  Thompson,    1879-81; 

M.   F.   Piatt,    1881;  E.   H.   Ashman,    1882-86;   E.   H. 

Baker,  1886-87:  P.  St.  Clair,  1888-89;  G.  F.  McHenry. 

1889-91;   C.   W.   Anthony,    1892-93;   E.   V.    Gardner, 

1894-98;  J.  Foster,  1899-1900;  F.  F.  Lewis,  1901-4; 

F.  E.  Henry,  1904 — . 

Taylor — Organized   1893. — Revs.   D.   F.   Bright,   1893-96; 

J.    Poeton,    1896-99;    E.    L.    Wismer,    1899-1900;    S. 

Deakin,  1901-4;  T.  Evans,  1904 — . 
Thedford — Organized    1899. — ^1^-    E.    W.    Ellis    (Stu.), 

1899;  Revs.  G.  H.  Rice,  1900;  C.  W.  Preston,  1900-5. 


320  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

T.i:.ir.Eii  Crei:k      (Wolbach) — Organized   1897. — Revs.   W. 

F.  Essig-,  1898;  G.  Henkelmann,  1899;  F.  A.  Stoelting, 
1900;  J.  B.  Happel,  1901-2. 

TuENTON — Organized  1886. — Revs.  G.  W.  Rich,  1886-87; 
U.  C.  Bosworth.  1888-90;  J.  H.  Beitel,  1891-94;  O.  A. 
Palmer,  1894;  D.  Donaldson,  1895;  D.  F.  Bright,  1896- 
97;  G.  E.  Lincoln,   1899-1901 ;  A.  G.  Axtell,  1902-4; 

G.  T.  Noyce,  1904—. 

Turkey  Creek  (German)  Friend — Organized  1894. — 
Revs.  P.  Lich,  1893;  G.  Essig,  1896-97;  G.  L.  Brake- 
meyer,  1898;  W.  F.  Vogt,  1904-5. 

U[.YSSES — Organized  1877. — Revs.  S.  Barrows,  1876-82; 
J.  F.  Roberts,  1882;  E.  T.  Lee  (Stu.),  1882;  J.  E. 
Storm,  1883-85;  J.  F.  Otis,  188^^87;  W.  S.  Hills, 
1888-90;  O.  A.  Palmer,  1892-94;  B.  F.  Diffenbacher, 
1894-97;  H.  A.  Shuman,  1898-1900;  W.  S.  Hampton, 
1901-5  ;  A.  J.  Fitt,  1905 — . 

Urt?ana — Organized  1884, — Rev.  R.  S.  Pierce.   1884 — . 

Venango — Organized  1888. — Revs.  W.  S.  Hampton,  1889- 
92;  G.  W.  Knapp,  1894-98;  J.  Croker,  1900-4;  F. 
Barnard,  1905. 

Verdon— Organized  1868.— Revs.  W.  S.  Hills,  188T-84; 
M.  H.  Al^ead,  1885-87;  J.  T.  Hull,  1887;  C.  W.  Preston, 
1888-92;  D.  L.  Hillard.  1892-93;  J.  L.  Fisher,  1894- 
96;  W.  J.  F^aacs.  1896-1900;  L  McRae,  1903-4;  H. 
F.  Bonn.  1904 — . 

Watioo — Organized  1871. — Revs.  J.  F.  Clarkson,  1874;  W. 
B.  Atkinson,  1897;  J.  Gray,  189(^81;  E.  E.  Webber, 
1882;  H.  M.  Goodell,  1884;  A.  A.  Cressman,  1886-92; 
J.  G.  Lange,  1892-95;  W.  H.  Brearley,  1896;  S.  Wood, 
1897;  J.  B.  Stocking,  1899-1903:  R.  W.  Burton, 
1904-5. 


TAi!Li:s  321 

W  Ai.i  ACK— Or-anized    1888.— Revs.    II.    W.   Fry,    1889-yi  ; 

(I.  S.  Biscoe,  1891-94;  C.  J.  ^lurphy,  1894-98;  I.  Mc- 

Kae,  1898-1900;  J.  L.  Fisher,  1900-1;  A.  W.  Nevill, 

190J-4;  F.  W.  Gardner,  1904 — . 
\\'avi:rlv— Organized   1876.— Revs.  M.  J-".  i'latt,   liiyiy-/^; 

K.  Cressman.   1879-81;  R.  Cam])bell,   18S1-84;  (].  \V. 

Richards,  1884;  G.  S.   Biscoe,  1885-90;  C.  E.  Enlow. 

1891  ;  I.  L.  Lowe.  1895-97;  -'^-  -^-  Cressman.  1898-99; 

O.    L.    Anderson,    1900;    C.    11.    Mnestis,    1902-5;    T. 

Jones,  1905 — . 
\Va\'i-:rly     (Swedish) — ()r<;anized     1904.  —  Rev.     J.     E. 

Swan  son,  1904 — . 
\\'i:!:i';.\c;  \\'ati:k — Organized  i86o. — Revs.  F.  Alley,  1866- 

(xj:  S.  Barrows,  1870-73;  J.  B.  Chase,  1874-78;  C.  F. 

Graves,    1880;    G.    Hindley,    1883;    C.    S.    Harrison, 

1-^93-7;  S.  I.  Hanford,  1898—. 
Wkscott     (Comstock) — Organized  1889. — Revs.  H.  Hitch- 
cock,   1890;   M.   J.    P.   Thing,    1891-93;   J.    F.   Smith, 

1893-96;  C.  E.  Howard,  1897-1900;  B.  H.  Jones,  1900; 

J.    H.    and    Mrs.    Helser,    1901-3 ;    S.    A.    Van  Liiven, 

1904 ;  T.  H.  Kraemer,  1905 — . 
West   Cedar  Valley     (Elgin) — Organized    1874. — Revs. 

H.  Griffith,  1874-83;  D.  E.  French  (Stu.),  1&84;  J.  A. 

^lilligan,  1S84;  H.  H.  Avery,  1884;  H.  Houlding,  1885 ; 

S.   Pearson,   1887-89:  H.  O.   Spellman    (Stu.),   1889; 

A.  C.  Trieber,  1891  ;  C.  D.  Thompson,  1893-95;  C.  H. 

Kershaw,  i896-rj7;  J.  Roberts,  1901-5. 
West    Hamilton     (Doniphan) — Organized    i878.---Revs. 

\A'm.    Woolman,    1876-77;   T.    Pngh,    1879-80;   Wm. 

Woolman,  1882;  I.  C.  Hugh,  1883-85;  J.  H.  Embree, 

1885-90;  E.  Cressman,  1891-95;  R.  M.  Travers,  1896- 

98;  C.  PL  Huestis,  1899-1901;  W.  A.  Alcorn,  1902-4; 

R.  Jones,  1904 — . 


21 


322  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

West  Point — Organized  1878. — Revs.  Geo.  Scott,  1878- 
81;  J.  Oakey,  1881-85;  G.  C.  Hall,  1886-87;  C.  H. 
Huestis,  1888-90;  Wm.  Haynes,  1890;  S.  Pearson, 
1891-99;   F.   W.   Leavitt,    1 899-1 903 ;   C.   A.    Gleason, 

1903-5- 
Wilcox — Organized    1886. — Revs.    J.    W.    liadden,    1886- 

88;  Mr.  C.  M.  Severance  (Stu.),  1888;  W.  S.  Hamp- 
ton, 1888-89;  ^-  H.  Huestis,  1890-92;  W.  P.  Peas, 
1893-94;  S.  I.  Unger,  1895-96;  O.  E.  Ticknor,  1897- 
98;  W.  H.  Le  Bar,  1899-1900;  G.  T.  Noyce,  1901-4; 
G.  I.  Reeves,  1905 — . 

WiLLOWDALE  (Plainvicw) — Organized  1881. — Revs.  G. 
T.  Noyce,  1895-1901 ;  W.  I.  Isaacs,  1901-3 ;  C.  M. 
Thomas,  1903-5. 

WiSNER — Organized  1880. — Revs.  Geo.  Scott,  1878-81 ;  J. 
Oakey,  1881-84;  G.  C.  Hall,  1885-86;  G.  W.  Brown- 
john,  1887-90;  D.  L.  Hillard,  1890-92;  P.  H.  Hines, 
1893-95;  J.  Foster,  1896;  A.  W.  Ayers,  1897-1902; 
F.  Baker,  1902 ;  Geo.  Scott,  1903 — . 

Wymore — Organized  1882. — Revs.  C.  E.  Flarwood,  1882- 
84;  G.  A.  Coleman,  1884;  J.  V.  Dimon,  1885-90;  W.  S. 
Woolworth,  1890;  J.  A.  Milligan,  1891  ;  J.  V.  Willis, 
1892;  S.  F.  Wilson,  i893-<)4;  W.  S.  Hills,  1895;  T.  C. 
Moffatt.  1897;  W.  F.  Berger,  1903-4;  R.  M.  Travers, 
1904—. 

York — Organized  1872. — Revs.  C.  S.  Harrison,  1873-75; 
H.  Herrick,  1875;  C.  S.  Harrison,  1876-82;  C.  H.  Mc- 
intosh, 1882-83;  H.  S.  Harrison,  1884-86;  R.  S.  Lind- 
sey,  1887-89;  E.  R.  Leeper,  1889-92;  R.  T.  Cross, 
1893-1903 ;  W.  H.  Medlar,  1903 — . 


TAULliS  323 


IX 


AI.IMIAI'.KTICAL    LIST    OF    ALL     MINISTERS     WORKING     IX      THE 

STATE 

The  tigures  represent  the  pastors. 

I'^or  correct  showing-  oi  length  and  nnniber  of  pastorates 
see  Table  VIII. 

The  pastorates  still  continuing  are  marked  with  a  — . 

Abbott,   Rev.    Amos Fairfield,  1878-79. 

Abernethy,  Rev.   H.   C. .  .  .  1^'airmont,  1878-87. 

Adams,   Rev.   A.   D Kearney,   1878-80. 

Aiknian,   Rev.  J.   G Red  Cloud,  1883. 

Alcorn,  Rev.   Wm.   A Shickley,  18Q9-1902, 

Doniphan,  1902-04. 
Alley,   Rev.    F Weeping  Water,   1866-67, 

Ord,  1867,  Plattsmouth,  1869-71, 

Crete  and  Wilber,  1873. 

Dorchester,  1878. 
-Altvater,  Rev.  Ernest  W.  .  Shickley,  1901,  Grafton,  1903. 
Anderson,    Rev.    Charles.  .  Gloversville,  1896. 

Bloomfield,  1898,  Addison,  1899. 
Anderson,   Rev.  O.   L ( irant,  1899. 

Lincoln  Butler  Avenue,  1899. 

Waverly,  1900-02. 
Anderson.  Rev.  Samuel.  .  ( iermantown,  1902. 
Andress,   Rev.   J-    H Grafton,  1894-96, 

Long  Pine,  1896, 

Avoca,  1899-1901, 

Chadron,    1901 — . 
Anthony,  Rev.  Charles  W. 

Evangelical  Association.  S\racuse,   1892-94. 


324  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

Appleton,  Rev.   Fayette   Cj.Linwood,  1898,  Arlington,  1899, 

Arcadia,  1900,  Rising  City,  1903. 

-Vrcher,   Rev.   Wm.   C Naponee,   1902-03. 

Arnold,   Rev.   John (Jsborn    (Ger.),    1886-88. 

Armstrong,    Rev.    J Vlbion,   1878. 

Ashmun,  Rev.  E.   H Syracuse,   1882-86, 

Beatrice,    1 88(^88. 

Askin,   Rev.   John Kearney,    1885-93. 

Atkinson,  Rev.   W.  B Wahoo,    1876. 

Avery,  Rev.  Holly  H Iveya  Paha  divide,  1884. 

Steele  City,   1894-1901. 
Axtell,   Rev.   .Vrchie   G. .  .  .  Eustis  and  Stockville,  1900, 

l^renton,  1902,  Blair,  1904 — . 
Ayars,  Rev.  T.   H Kearney,    1880-82, 

David  City,  1883-86. 
Ayers,  Rev.   Alfred  W. ...  Arlington,   1889-92, 

David  City,  1892-96, 

Omaha  Pilgrim,  1896-97. 

Wisner,  1 898-1902. 

Bacon,    Rev.    J.    E Neligh,  1895-99. 

Baker,   Rev.   Arid  A Bnrwell,   1S92. 

Baker,  Rev.  Henry  Rolfe.  Crawford,  1892. 
Baker,  Rev.   E.  H Sutton,   1883, 

Bradshaw,  1888-89. 

(irafton,  1889,  Clay  Center,  1890. 
Baker,    Rev.    Eranklin.  .  .  .  Wisner,  1902. 
Baldwin,   Rev.    David   J...  Pierce,   i88(>-88. 
Bandy,  Rev.   Paul   S Ft.  Calhoun.   1899, 

Fairfield  to   1902. 
Barber.    Rev.    Frank  W..  .  Cambridge.  1883,  Rivcrton.  18S2. 

Moline,  1886. 
Barnard.    Rev.    Fred Grant,    1905, 

Madrid  and  Venango.  1905 — . 
Barron.    Rev.    Tf^hn   W. .  .  .  Creighton,   1890. 


TABLES  325 

Harrows,    Rev.    S Weeping  Water,  1870-74, 

(  >sce()Ia,  1874-79,  Ulysses,  j88j. 
JJanlett,  Rev.  Albert  X.  .  .  Stockville,  .1800-93. 
liaskervillo,    Rev.    Mark.  .  .Aurora,  1888-91. 
I'ates,   Rev.   Henry I^lymouth  ist,  1872-82, 

IMekrell,  1885. 
IJalty.   Rev.  George  j Cortland,   1890, 

Shickle}-,  Strang,  Bruning,  1893, 

i  larbine,  1895, 

Grand  Island,   1898, 

Memingford,   1899, 

I-arnam,  1900. 
l>aync.    Rev.    Thomas.  ...  Columbus,   1876-78. 
Heal,    Rev.    Byron Butler  Co.   ist,  18S0, 

Cedar  Rapids  and 

Linv.'ood,   1884. 
r.ear.  Rev.  S.  A.   (  AI.  E.)  .'Brunswick,    1894-95. 

Beaver.   Rev.   C.   H b'airmont,  1899-05. 

Beitle,  Rev.  Julius    H I'alisade,  Trenton,   1891, 

Hayes  Co.  ist,  1892, 

Eureka,   1898, 

S.  S.  and  P.  Missionary, 

Xaponee,  1905 — . 

I'ell.    Rev.    Thomas Balm^Ta,  1871,  Paisley,  1893. 

Belknap,   Rev.   Lafayette.  .  Aten  and  Plerrick,  1888. 
Benjamin,      Rev.      W.     F 

(Bap.)    -Monroe,  1903-05. 

Bennett,  Rev.   W.   P C'rete,   1884-96. 

Bennett,  Rev.  J.  H \voca,  1901-04, 

Clay  Center,   1904 — . 

Bent,    Rev.    George ]\ed  Cloud,   1879. 

Benton,  Rev.  L.   E Talappa,  Glenco, 

Mapleville,  1875-76, 

Beaver  Crossing,   1878. 


326  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

Berger,  Rev.  W.  Francis ..  Wymore,   1903, 

Omaha  Hillside,  1903-04. 
Bentz,  Rev.  H Friend   (Ger.),   1884, 

Grafton   (Ger.),  1885. 

Berry,  Rev.  Geo.  R Aten,  1889-90,  Addison,  1890. 

Berry,  Rev.  Loren  F Fremont,  1887-90. 

Bettex,  Rev.  Edward  T.  .  McCook   (Ger.),   1892-93. 

Bidwell,  Rev.  John  P Arh'ngton,   1888. 

Bisbee,  Rev.  C.  G Fontanelle,  1866-67. 

Instructor  in  School,  1870-75. 

Supplying  many  of  the  smaller 
churches  for  a  number  of  yrs. 

Bird,  Rev.  M.  B Vvoca,   1905 — . 

Biscoe,  Rev.  Geo.  S Glarks,  1879-86,  Waverly,  1886, 

Milford,  1890,  Wallace,  1891-94. 

Bohn,  Rev.  H.  f" Vcrdon,   1904-—. 

Bosworth,  Rev.  Uriah  C.  .Genoa  and  Monroe,  1887, 

Trenton,    1888,    Bertrand,    1890. 
Booth,   Rev.   Edwin,  Jr.  ..  Long  Pine,  1899, 

J'loomfield,  1900-02, 

David  City,  1903, 

Ikatrice,    1904 — . 
l*)rakemeyer.      Rev.      Gus- 
tavus  L Friend   (Ger.),  1898-04, 

Germantown,  1904 — . 
Brande,  Rev.  Alfred  G.  ..  Pierce,  1891. 
P)reareley,  Rev.  Wm.  H..\\ahoo,  1896. 
Brennecke.  Rev.  Frederick 

(Ger.)    Superior  and 

Beaver  Creek,  1894. 
Brereton,  Rev.  James  E.  .  .  Ashland,  1886-92, 

Sec.  for  Doane  College, 

Geneva,  1893-96. 
Brett,  Rev.  Geo.  Southwell,  (  u-ant,  1892-93. 


TABLES  32 


r.n-iit,   Rev.   D.   Franklin.  Taylor.   1893. 

I'airview   (Trcnlonj,  1896. 
Bross,  Rev.  H Crete.    1873-84,   Chadron,    1885, 

C.en.  Miss,  in  N.  W.  Neb.,  1886- 
90,  State  Supt.  of  Home  Mis- 
sions,   1890 — . 
rirown.    Ivcv.   Aniasa   A .  .  .  1  farvard,  1901, 

Creighton,   1903 — . 
BpAvn,  Rev.  .\urelian  L.  .  .Douglas,  1891,  Howells,  1893, 

Harbine,    1898,   Irvington,    i8(,)9, 

Talmage,  1901. 
I'.rown.  Rev.  H.  E Ordained  by  Gen.  Assn., 

Pastor  Fontanelle.   1866-67. 
l^.rownjohn.  Rev.  G.  W...Clarks,  1886,  Wisner,  1887-90. 

Brown.  Rev.  James  M Butte,   1905 — . 

Brown.   Rev.   J.    B Snake  Creek,  1889, 

Hyannis,   1890-95,  Reno,   1902. 

Brown.  Rev.  L.  E Ogalalla,   1884. 

Bruce.  Rev.   W Glenco,  1876-78. 

Bruechert,  Rev.  F.  H.  W.Omaha  (Ger.),  1885—. 

Buettner,   Rev.   Henry McCook  (Ger.).  i889-<)2. 

Bruse.  Rev.   John Stockham,  1893, 

Sutton   (Ger.),   1893-94. 
Buck,     Rev.     Charles     E. 

(M.    E.) Paisley,  1904 — . 

Buell.   Rev.   Seth   A Ravenna,   1903—. 

Burhans,  Rev.  Paul  C Seward,  1898. 

Burling.  Rev.  Jas.  P Kearney.  1897. 

Bullock,   Rev.   Motier  A..  Lincoln  Vine  St.,  1899—. 

Bunker,   Rev.   Fred  R Fairmont.   1888-89. 

Burt.  Rev.  J.  S Itinerant  Licentiate. 

Burton.  Robert  W Havelock.  1902,  Wahoo.  1904— 

Butler.  Rev.  M.  C Exeter.  1883-86. 

Red  Cloud.  1886. 


2y  CONGREGATIONAL   XKBRASKA 


i'.utlcr.  Rev.  S.  Wright.  ..  Omaha  St.   Mary's  Ave,    1892- 

1900. 
]')uss,   Rev.   William Fremont,  1890-1902. 

Calhoun,  Rev.  John  S.  .  .  .  Kertrand,   1S99,  Tndianola,   1900. 

(."amp,  Rev.  W.  L Kearney,  1878,  Wheatland,  1878. 

Campbell,  Rev.  C.  E Fairview   (Trenton),  1898, 

Ijiirvell,   1899-1902. 
("ampbell,  Rev.   Randolph.  Blair,  1878, 

^^'averly  and 

Pleasant  View,  1881-85. 
Carlisle,  Rev.  Charles  B.  .  Seward,   1893. 
Carson,  Rev.  J.  W'illiam.  .  Ashland,    1903 — . 

Case,  Rev.  A.  M Blair,  1884-87. 

Chase,  Rev.  J.  B Butler  Co.  ist,  1868, 

Fremont,   1869-72, 

Fontanelle,  1873. 
Cheesman,  Rev.  T.  W.  C.  Seward,   1896,  Ashland,   1898. 
Chessington,  F^ev.  (i.  ¥.  ]\L  S\raeuse,   1877. 

Clancy,   Rev.   W.    P Arlington,   1885. 

Cleveland,  Rev.  H.  C Hyannis,  1898, 

Xaponee,   1900-02. 

Clark,  Rev.   Allen Nebraska  City,   1887. 

Clark,  Rev.   G.  B Monroe,  1891-92. 

Clark,  Rev.  O.   C Friend,  1883-85. 

Clark,  Rev.  V.   F David  City,   1888-92, 

Floldrege,  1892-97, 

Xeligh,    1903 — . 

Clarkson,  Rev.  J.  F Wahoo,  1874. 

Cockran,  Rev.  Florenzo  C.  ^>utton,  1886,  Rising  City,   1891, 

Cireenwood.  1895. 
Cockran,    Rev.   Warren.  .  .  Fairmont,  1876-78. 
Coffman,  Rev.  Arthur  W.  Bertrand,   1888-89. 
Cole,  Rev.  Thomas  W.  .  .  .  T<"airmont,   1889,  Ravenna,   1893, 

Grand  Island,  1894. 


TABLES  329 

Coleman,  Rev.  ( icori^c  A.  .  Wvniore,   1884-85. 

C'dllicr.  Rev.  J.  I Xehraska  City,   1877-79. 

e'oiiistock.  Rev.  Havillo  W.' iran.l   Island,   1887, 

Kiverton,    1889,   J^>iii'well,    i8(;o. 
Connetl,   Rev.   .Mien  W .  .  .  Rnrwell,  1881),  Iviirfield,  1890. 

C'onrad.  Rev.  Geo.  A (  )nialia  Saratoga,  1891, 

McCook,   1903-05. 

Cooper,  Rev.  James Ilarbine  and  Plymouth,  1890-93. 

Cope,  Rev.  H.  W.  (M.  E.)  Paisley    (Cnadilla),    1900-02. 

Cowan.  Rev.  J.  W '."rete,   1901 — . 

Crai.c:,  Rev.  John  K Farnam  and  Stoekville,  1903 — . 

Crane,  Rev.  H.  C (  )maha   Hillside,   1887-90. 

Crawford,  Rev.  C.  H (ienoa  and  Monroe,  1883-84. 

Crawford,  Rev.   M.  A David   City. 

Crawford,  Rev.  Otis  D.  ..  Columbus,   1893-94. 
Cressman,   Rev.   A.   A....  Camp  Creek,  1879, 

Albion  and  Boone,  1880, 
\\'ahoo,  1886,  Fairmont,  1892, 
Grafton,   1896-97, 
Waverly,  1898-igoo, 
Field  Sec.  for  Doane  College, 
Grand  Island,   1901-04. 

Cressman,    Rev.    F ^Vaverly,  1879, 

Steele  City,  1881,  Aurora,  1887, 
Plymouth,  1888,  Doniphan,  i8(;)r, 
Dodg-e  and  HowelLs,  1897, 
Springfield,   1898, 
Steele  City,   190T-04. 
Cresswell,     Rev.     William 

(Pres.) Ft.  Calhoun,  190T. 

Crocker,  Rev.  Herbert  G.  .Omaha  Hillside,  1902-03. 

Croker,   Rev.   John Grant,  1900, 

Bertrand  and  Loomis,  1904. 

Crofts,  Rev.  Geo.  W Beatrice,   1892-1904. 

22 


330  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

Crosby,   Rev.    Samuel   B.-Loomis,   i<S92,  Eagle,   1893. 

Cross,  Rev.  R.  T York,   1893-1903. 

Curry,  Rev.  David  G Hay  Springs,   1900-02. 

Curtis,  Rev.  A.  W Hastings,  1878, 

David  City,  1879. 

Dada,  Rev.  E.  P Pierce,  1884-86, 

Springfield,   1886,  Friend,   1889, 
Hemingford,  1894-96. 

Dada,  Rev.  W.  B Stanton,   1882. 

Davidson,  Rev.  Wm.  E.  . .  Friend,  1887-88. 

Davies,  Rev.  Arthur  E.  .  .  .  Eustis,    1899-1900. 

Davies,   Rev.   George Xursery  Plill,   1871. 

Davies,  Rev.  W.  A Brunsv/ick,   1893,   Bladen,    1894, 

Linwood,   1896, 
Dodge,  1897-1901, 
Monroe,  1900-02. 

Davis,  Rev.  Joseph  W.  .  .  .  Neligh,  1888. 

Darley,  Rev.  Alexander  M.,  Seward,   1887-88. 

Deakin,  Rev.  Samuel Hay  Springs,   1888-93, 

Cowles,  1893,  Taylor,  1901, 
Cowles,  1904 — . 

Dean,  Rev.  Amos  N Freewater,  1881, 

Morning  Star  and  Moline,  1881, 
Naponee,  1884-85,  . 
Cambridge,   1884-89, 
Oxford,  1885,  Talmage,  1889, 
Eagle,  1890,  Douglas,  1894, 
Friend,  1895. 

Dean,  Rev.  Benj.  A Clarks,  1878, 

Exeter  and  Grafton,  1879-83. 

Dean,  Rev.  Edwin  B South  Bend,   1890. 

Dean,  Rev.  F.  W :  .  .  .  Red  Cloud,  1898, 

McCook,  1902-03. 


TABLES 


331 


Dean.  Rev.  S.  C Jenkins    Mills,    1872, 

Steele  City,  1874-82, 
J'lyniouth,    1882, 
South  Bend,  1885-90. 
Debenhani,   Rev.   Walter 

(Presbyterian  ) Park   (Alentorville),   1898-99. 

De  Long-,  Rev.  Thomas  W..  Ainsworth,  1888-95. 
Dcmorcst,  Rev.  W.   L.  ...  Crand  Island,  1888-89. 

Denney,  Rev.  Wil.son Nebraska  City,   1884, 

.\sliland,    1892-97. 
Dickenson,  Rev.  Geo.  L.  .  Alma.   18S8,  Naponee,  1889 
Dickenson,  Rev.  Mrs.  M.  ].,  Linwood,  1902—. 
Dietrick,  Rev.  Henry  J.  .  .  JUitte,  Zion's,  1901,  Hope,  1902 
Diffenbacher,  Rev.  B.  F..  .  .Mainland,  1877, 

Sarpy    Center,    1878, 
Loui.sville,   1879-83, 
Arlington,  1883, 
Hay  Springs  and 
Rushville,  1885-88, 
Ulysses,  1894,  Eagle,  1898, 
Irvington,   1900-03, 
Omaha  Saratoga,  1904 — . 

Dimmock,  Rev.  S.  R Lincoln,  1873. 

Dimon,  Rev.  ].  V Wymore,   1885. 

l^ixon,  Rev.  J.  J.  A.  T Irvington,  1871. 

Doane.  Rev.  John Grand  Island,  1889-93, 

Lincoln  Plymouth,  1893-1902, 
Fremont,  1902 — . 

Dobson,  Rev.  John  A Seward,  1888. 

Donaldson,  Rev.  David ...  Trenton,   1895-96. 

DooHttlc,  Rev.  J.  B Grafton,  1880-87, 

Farnam,  1890-93, 
Harbine  and  Plymouth,  1893-95. 
Doremus,  Rev.  Andrew.  ,  .Glencoe,  1879. 


332  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

Dorsey,  Rev.  Geo.  N Ilubbcll  and  Chester,  1881. 

Douglas,  Rev.  Clinton.  ...  Albion,    1900-03. 
Douglas,   Rev.   Thomas.  ..  Fontanelle,  1870. 

Douglas,  Rev.  T.  O Franklin,  1902 — -. 

Dresser,  Rev.  Amos.  .....  Butler  Co.  ist,  1870, 

Linwood,  1875,  Tndianola,   1879, 

Ciuide  Rock,   1885, 

Camp  Creek,  1886-96, 

Alinersville,  1893, 
Duncan,  Rev.  Calvin  W .  .  Ogalalla,    1903, 

Holdrege,  1905 — . 
Dungan,   Rev.   Geo Tndianola,    1882, 

McCook,  1882-86. 
Dungan,  Rev.  Thomas  A.Sutton,  1903 — . 
Durrant,   Rev.   Edward.  ..  Steele  City,  1889, 

Alma  and  Blyville,  1891. 
Duryea,  Rev.  Joseph  T...  Omaha   ist,   i888-<94. 
Dyas,  Rev.  J.   P Silver  Creek,  1879, 

Genoa  and  Monroe,  1880-83. 
Dyke,  Rev.  Thomas Naponee,   1904, 

Aten  and  Crofton,  1905 — . 

Eastman,  Rev.  W.  E Osceola,   1882,  Richmond.   1884, 

Greeley,   1885.  Rushville,   1886. 

Eaton.  Rev.  Cyrus  H Shickley,  1887. 

Egerland,  Rev.   Eranz.  .  .  .  Crete  (Ger.),  1897-1902. 

Ehnamani.  Rev.  Artenias.  .  Santce  Agency,    1867-1902. 

Elliott,  Rev.   John  E Columbus,  1870-75. 

Ellis.  Rev.  Jacob  T Neligh.  1893-94. 

Ellis,  Rev.  John  T Dustin,  1903,  Naper  1904, 

Campbell  and  Bladen,   1905 — . 

Ely,  Rev.  Edward  L Shickley,  1889-91, 

Red  Cloud,  1891, 
Omaha  Saratoga  and 
Cherry  HiH,   1894-96. 


TABLES  333 

l-:nil)rcc.  Rov.  J.  H noniphan,  1885.  Trumbull,  1888, 

Loomis,  1900, 

P.ortrand,  1902-03, 

llcniingford,  1903-05, 

Reno.   1905. 

Emerson,   Rov.   C.   H Creigbton,   1871. 

Emerson,  Rev.  F.  E (Osceola,  1886. 

Enlow,  Rev.  Charles  E.  . .  O/ecnwood,  1891, 

Waverly,_  1891, 

Havelock,  i892-c)3. 
Essig,    Rev.    Gotleib Friend    (Ger.),    1895, 

Stockbam  (Gcr.),  1897. 

Hayes  Co.   ist,  1 899-1902. 
Evans,  Rev.  H.  M Bunvell,  1895, 

Grand  Lsland,  1896-97, 

Cummings  Park,  1904 — . 
Evans.    Rev.   Tbomas Hrewster,  1900-04. 

Taylor.   i()04,  Almcria.  1905 — '-. 
Eveland.  Rev.  Samuel Ainswortb,  i8'}5-98, 

Springview,  1896, 

Petersburg,  1898. 

Falk.  Rev.  Tbeo Crete   (Ger.),   1880. ' 

Farnswortb.   Rev.   Artbur.  Xorfolk,  2d,   1893, 

l^odge  and  Howells,   1894-96, 
Nebraska  City,    1896. 

l-^arwell.   Rev.    Asa Asbland,   1871. 

Fellows,  Rev.  C.  B Pilger  and  Stanton,  1889. 

Fellows.  Rev.  \\m.  W.  .  .  .  Fairmont,   1887-88. 

Ferguson,  Rev.  Frank  L..Cbadron,  1890. 

Fifield.  Rev.  L.  R Lincoln  ist,  1870-72, 

Kearney,    1874-78. 

iMucb,  Rev.  J.  R Nebraska  City,  1865-67. 

Fisber.  Rev.  James  A....()maba  Plymoutb,  1894-95. 


334-  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

Fisher,  Rev.  Jessie  L Verdon,   1894, 

Camp  Creek,  1896-98, 
Rising  City,  1 898-1900, 
Curtis  and  Wallace,   1900-02. 
Fitch,   Rev.   Albert Irvington,   1874, 

Central  City,  1875, 
Chapman,  1879. 

Fitt,  Rev.  A.  J Eagle,  1904,  Ulysses,  1905 — . 

Flock,   Rev.   Jacob Indianola,  1888-92, 

Sutton,   1892-95, 

Omaha  Hillside,   1895, 

Kearney,  1903 — . 
Folsom,  Rev.  Arthur  J...  Alma,  1902, 

Omaha  Plymouth,  1904 — . 
Forbs,  Rev.  Frank  S Omaha  Saratoga,  1888, 

Nebraska  City,  1889. 

Forbs,  Rev.  W.  H White  Water,'  1883. 

Foster,    Rev.    John Wisner,  1896,  Cambridge,   1897, 

Syracuse,  1899, 

Springtield,  1902. 

Foster,  Rev.  Roswell Nebraska  City,  1867. 

Foster,  Rev.  W.  C Nebraska  City,   1869. 

Fox,  Rev.  Frank Shickley,   Strang,  and 

Bruning,  1891-92. 

Francis,  Rev.  Silas  F Fontanelle,  1857. 

Frazier,   Rev.    Francis ....  Santee,   1902 — . 

Frazier,   Rev.   Albert Niobrara,  1905 — . 

French,  Rev.  D.  E Arborville,  1903- — . 

French,  Rev.   H.  A Milford,  1872-83, 

C-reenw  ood ,    1 883-90, 

Editor  Nch.  Congl.  Neivs — . 
Fritzemeier,  Rev.  William.  .Crete  (Ger.),  1891, 

Olive  Branch,  1895-96. 
Frv,  Rev.  Holland  B Pilger  and  Stanton,  1889. 


TABLES  335 

Gafcrt,  Rev.   Fredrick.  ...  Princeton,  (Ger.),  1904 — . 
Gammon,  Rev.  Robert  W.  Alonroe,  1890-91. 

Gardiner,  Rev.  G.  A luistis,   1904-05. 

Gardner,  Rev.  E.  V Syracuse,   1894, 

(irand  Island,   1899. 
Gardner,  Rev.  F.  W LMair,   1899,  Curtis,  1904, 

Wallace,  1904 — . 
Gardner,  Rev.  Isaac  J.  ...  Craw  ford,    1891, 

Silver  Creek,  1892-93. 
Gardner,  Rev.  N.  E Ilcniingford,   1886-90, 

Silver  Creek,  1893,  Genoa,  1894. 

Arborville,  1895-99, 

Hemingford,  1903, 

Silver  Creek,  1904. 

Gates,  H.  N Supt.  Home  Missions,  1874-80. 

Gaylord,  Rev.  Reuben.  ...  Omaha,  1857, 

State  Supt.  Ti.  M.,  1864-70, 

La  Platte,  1870, 

Deceased  at  Fontanellc, 

Jan.  10,  1880. 
Gearhart,  Rev.  Charles  D.  Indianola,   1892,  Pierce,   1896, 

Newman's  Grove,  1900, 

Ainsworth,  1902-05. 

Geer,  Rev.   Herman Bradshaw,   1887-88. 

Giddings,  Rev.  William.  .  .  Cedar  Bluffs,  1871. 
Gilbert,  Rev.  J.  B Fontanelle,  1880, 

Springfield,   1882, 

Exeter,  1886-189 1, 

Ravenna,  1891. 
Gleason,  Rev.  Charles  A.  -West  Point,  1903-05, 

Fairmont,   1905 — . 
Goerlitz,    Rev.    G.    Wolde- 
man Hastings  (Ger.)  and 

Inland,  1894-95. 
Goodell,  Rev.  H.  M Blair,  1882,  Wahoo,  1884-86. 


336  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

Goodell,  Rev.  J DeWitt,  iS/lS-;;. 

Gordon,  Rev.  Thomas.  . .  .  Nebraska  City,   1876-77. 
Graham,  Rev.  Robert  N..IIavelock,  1901, 

Bloomfield,    1903 — . 

Addison,   1903. 

Gregory,  Rev.   Lewis Lincohi   ist,   1S75-99. 

Graves,  Rev.  C.  F Sutton,   1878-80, 

Weeping  Water. 

Grawe.  Rev.   T.  F Wilber  and  Hig-hland,  i88r. 

Gray,  Rev.  John Sutton,  1874-76,  Wahoo,  1876, 

Cokmibus,   1882, 

Ainsworth,  1883, 

Butte,  1 898- 1 902. 

Gray,  Rev.  R.  Y Addison,  1 89^-99. 

Green,  Rev.  Fred  D Stanton,  1888-89. 

Griffith,  Rev.  Harvey Clear  Water,  1873,  NeHgh,  1875, 

Much  missionary  work. 
Griffiths,   Rev.   Thomas.  ..  Petersburg,  1895, 

Geneva,   1897- — . 
Griffiths,  Rev.  Wm.  R.  .  .  .  Shickley,  .Strang,  and 

Rruning,  1897-98. 
Grob,  Rev.  Gottfried Inland  (Ger.),  1887, 

Hastings,   1890,  Sutton,   1899, 

Sutton  (Ger.),  1899 — , 

Stockhani  — . 

Grob,  Rev.  John Inland    (Ger.),   1886-87. 

Grout,  Rev.  S.  N Elmore,   1869-70, 

Franklin  Co.   ist,  1874. 
Grupe.  Rev.  Fred  W Farnam,  1898, 

Campbell  and 

Bladen,    1898-1900. 
Hadden,  Rev.  J.  W Alma,   1884,  Freewater,   1885, 

Wilcox,  1886,  Molina,  1887, 

Upland,  1888,  Riverton,  1890, 

Spring^dew,  1891,  Out  stations. 


TABLES  337 

Hadscl,       -Mr.       \\\        T. 

(M.    E.) liwmnis  and  Dinghani,  1905 — . 

Haines,  Rev.  S.  S Vrborville,  1881-82,  and 

Randolph. 

llalbcrslebcn.  Rev.  11.  C.  .  Highland,  1887, 

Cortland,   1888-90, 

Silver  Creek,  1890, 

Liuwood,  1892,  Irvin.^ton,   1896, 

Exeter,  1 899-1 901, 

Indianola,  1901-03, 

Palisade,  1904 — . 

1  lall.  Rev.  E.  J Precept,  Stoui^hton, 

Vailton,  1885. 

Hall.  Rev.  ( ieorge  C Wisner,  1885,  We.st  Point,  1886, 

Nebraska  City,  1 892-90. 

Hall,  Rev.  James Syracuse,  1874. 

Hamlin.    Rev.    Christopher 

R Lincoln  Plymouth,  1902-04. 

Hammond,  Rev.  Charles  L.Grafton,  and  Shickle\',  1903 — , 

Hampton,  Rev.  W.  S Arborville,  1877, 

Cambridge,  1880, 

Franklin,   1882, 

Riverton,  1886,  Wilcox,  1888, 

Grant,  1889,  Ogalalla,  1894, 

Iirule,   1897,  Silver  Creek,  1808, 

Ulysses,    1901-04,    Howells   and 

Dodg-e,  1905 — . 

Hand.  Rev.  Leroy  S.  .  .  .  .  .  Omaha  Saratoga,  1896, 

Arlington,   1900-02. 

Hanford,  Rev.   S.   I Long  Pine,   1887,  Aurora,   i&)i, 

Weeping  Water,    1898 — . 

Hannan.  Rev.  W.  E Dunning,  1905. 

Eustis  and  Loomis,  1905 — . 


338  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

Happel.  Rev.  John  B Superior,  1899, 

Germantown,  1902-03, 

Outstations. 
Hardcastle,  Rev.  Wm.  .  .  .  Cambridge,  1899-1903. 
Hardy,  Rev.  James  W.  .  .  .  Bloomfield  and 

Addison,    1891-92, 

Aten,  1893-94. 
Harrison,  Rev.  C.  S York,   1876-82, 

Franklin,  1884-91, 

Weeping-  Water,    1893-97, 

Grafton,  1900,  Clay  Center,  1900. 

Harrison,  Rev.  H.  S Centerville,  1881,  York,  1884. 

Harrison,  Rev.  James.  .  .  .  North  Bend,  1886. 

Harrison,  Rev.  H.  R Hastings,   1905 — . 

Harrison,  Rev.  M.  B Scribner,  1881 — . 

Harsnape,  Rev.   Wm Long  Pine,   1901, 

Norfolk  2d,  1903—. 
Hart,  Rev.  William  H.  .  .  .  Arborville,   1899-1900, 

Friend,  1900-03. 
Harwood,  Rev.  C.  E Wymore,   1S82, 

Fairfield,    1884-89. 
Haskin,  Rev.  Spencer  C.  .  Clearwater,  1890. 
Hatch,  Rev.  Fredrick  A..  Omaha  Plymouth,  1900-04. 
Hathaway,  Rev.  Daniel  E.  DeWitt,  1886, 

Plymouth,    1886-88. 

Haviland,  Rev.  B.  F Hastings  and  Harvard,  1873. 

Hauptman,  Rev.  William.  Genoa,  1900-02, 

Red  Cloud,  1902-03, 

Alma,  1904-05. 

Hawkes,  Rev.  G.  B McCook,  1905 — . 

Hawkins,  Rev.  Newman  H.Indianola  and  Noble,  1904 — . 
Hayes,  Rev.  Edward  L.  .  .  Danbury,  1898. 
Haynes,  Rev.  William.  ...  Ravenna,   1889. 

West  Point,  1890, 

Exeter,  1891-92. 


TABLES  339 

Healcy,       Rev.        Sullivan 

Scott Hastings,   1894-95. 

Healy,   Rev.   Frank  D Bertrand,  1895-99. 

Heathcote,  Rev.  Arthur  S.  .  Bladen,  1897. 

Heaton,  Rev.  I.  E Fremont,  1856-59. 

Heide,  Rev.  G.  O.  (Bap.) .  .  Monroe,  1904. 

Hellier,  Rev.  Frank  O Maple  Creek 

(Stanton),  1893-94. 

Helser,  Rev.  Mrs.  Mary  A.Sargent,  1902-04. 

Heinzman,  Rev.  Z.   K.  .  .  .Steele  City,  1893. 

Henderson,  Rev.  J.  H....  Grand  Island,   1893. 

Henklemann,     Rev.     Gus- 

tavus  L Timber  Creek,   1899, 

Lincoln   (Ger.),  1900, 
Hayes  Co.   ist   (Ger.),  1902, 
AFcCook  (Ger.),  1902 — . 

Henry,  Rev.  F.  Edmonds.  Omaha  Saratoga,  1900, 

Syracuse,  1904 — . 

.Hensel,  Rev.  William  A.  .  Spencer,  1896-98,  Dustin,   1900, 

Napier,  1903. 

Herbert,  Rev.  Joseph  E.  ,  ,  Ainsworth,  1883, 

Huntington  and  Trumbull,  1886, 
Grafton,  1887. 

Herrick,  Rev.  H York,   1875. 

Herring,  Rev.  H.  C Omaha  ist,  1898 — . 

Hertel,  Rev.  Arthur York   (Ger.),   1888. 

Hess,  Rev.  Henry Niobrara,  1898, 

Hope  (Ger.),  1899-1902, 
Butte  (Ger.),  1903—. 

Heustis,  Rev.  H.  C Cortland,   1884, 

Bertrand,  1886-88, 
West  Point,   1888. 
Freewater,  1890,  Exeter,  1892, 
Doniphan,  1 899-1902, 
Waverly,  1902-05. 


340  ■  CONGREGx\T10NAL  NEBRASKA 

Hibbard,  Rev.  Charles Exeter  and  Sutton.  1873, 

Fairmont,  1874. 
Hicks,  Rev.  George  C.  .  .  .  Avoca,  1891. 

High,  Rev.  Jedd  A Arborville,  1892-95. 

Hilkerbaumer,  Rev.  R Guide  Rock  (Ger.),  1889, 

Beaver  Creek,  1893, 

Nelson,  1894, 

Hallam,   1897- 1903. 

Many  Outstations. 
Hill,  Rev.  E.  C.  W Talmage,  and 

Camp  Creek,  1883-86. 

Hilliard,  Rev.  D.   C Avoca,  1889. 

Hills,  Rev.  William  S.  ...  Council,   1872,  x\urora,  1873. 

Seeley,  1875,  Grafton,  1878, 

Richardson  Co.  ist  and  2d  and 

Verdon,  1881-85, 

Eagle,  1886-88,  Ulysses,  1888, 

Wymore,  1895,  Alma  ana 

Naponee,  1896. 
Hindly,  Rev.  Geo .'  Nebraska  City,   1881-84. 

Weeping  Water,  1883-93. 
Hines.  Rev.  P.  H Dodge.  1891,  Howells,   1892, 

Wisner,   1893,  Geneva,   1896-0)7. 
Hinman,  Rev.  Herbert  J..Clarks  and  Genoa.  1879. 

David  City,  1900-02. 
Hitchcock.   Rev.    Howard. Arcadia,  1889. 
Hobein.  Rev.  Edward  L.  .  Hallam  (Ger.),  1903—. 
Hodel,  Rev.  Abram Culbertson  (Ger.).  1890, 

McCook,  1893. 
Hoffman,  Rev.  John  H...  Kearney,   1893-9.4. 
Holt.  Rev.  M.  L Knox  Co.  ist,  1880, 

Plainview,   1881, 

Omaha  Park  View.  1887-90. 
Holton,  H.  F.  (Stu.) Bertrand.  1904—. 


TABLES  .^4 1 

lloinsakor.   Rov.   David  S.  !-'t.   Calhoun.   iScjJ^jy. 
I!()])kins.  Rev.  William  ll.Aurora.  1898-1901. 
I  louldiiii;-.    Rev.    II ( ;iovcrsville  and 

West  Cedar  Valley,  1885. 

House,   Rev.  J.  T (ireenwood,   1894-95. 

Houston.  Rev.  Warren  H.Macon,  1886, 

Silver  Creek,  1888, 

R.laden,  1889-91, 

.Vrcadia,  1898-1900. 
Houston,  Rev.  Albert  S.  .  .  Indianola,  1895-97. 
Howard,  Rev.  Charles  E.  .  Sargent,  1897,  Dodge,  1900, 

I'^airview,   1901-02. 

Hughs,  Rev.  I.  C Doniphan,  1883-85. 

Hurlbert,  Rev.  E.  B Fontanelle,  1858, 

Irvington,  1865, 

PapilHon,   1866-68. 

Hull.  Rev.  G.  H 1-airfield,  1899. 

Hull.  Rev.  Irving  T DeW'itt  and  Talmage,    1889. 

Humphrew  Rev.  C.  C.  .  .  .  Camp  Creek,  1871, 

Osceola,   1873,  Albion,   1874-78. 

Hunt.  Rev.  T.  C Hastings,  1901-04. 

Hunt,   Rev.  \\'.   S Columbus.  i8(jo.  Harvard,  1904. 

Hulbcrt,  Rev.  J.   M Flag  Rutte,  1890. 

Iden,  Ivev.  Alpheus  J .Vddison  and  Crofton,  1903-04, 

Genoa,  1905 — . 
Irvine,  Rev.  Alexander  I'\  Omaha  Pilgrim.   1894-96. 
Isaacs,   Rev.   A\'illiam    [...Verdon,  1896-1903, 

S]:)encer,  1903 — . 

Jackson,  Rev.  Frank  D.  .  .  Sutton,  1896, 

Omaha  Pilgrim,  1897-1900. 

James,  Rev.  David  R Cambridge,  1895. 

James,  Rev.  George  W.  .  .  Crcighton,   1894-1900. 


342  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

Jefferies,  Rev.  John Crawford,  1893-96, 

Norfolk,  2cl,  1896, 
Camp  Creek,  1902 — . 

Johnson,   Rev.   Jonas Lincohi  Swedish,  1898. 

Johnson,  Rev.  Samuel  W.Richmond,  Belknap,  and 

Dustin,   1889-1890. 

Jones,  Rev.  Burton  H Hyannis,  1897-98, 

Hay  Springs,   1 898-1900, 
Sargent,  1900-02. 

Jones,  Rev.  D.  J DeWitt,  1877-78. 

Jones,  Rev.  J.  V Carroll,  1905—. 

Tones    Rev.  J.  A Richardson  Co.  ist  and 

Elmore,  1873-74. 

Jones,  Rev.  John  A Harbine,  1899. 

Jones,  Rev.  L.  H Fontanelle,  1864-68, 

Lone  Tree,  1872. 

Jones,  Rev.   Samuel Carroll  (Welsh),  1891-1901. 

Jones,  Rev.  Thomas Brule,  1903-04, 

Rising  City,  1905, 
Waverly,  1905 — . 

Jones,  Rev.  Richard West  Hamilton, 

Doniphan  and 
South  Platte,  1905 — . 

Jose,  Rev.  Emanuel Scott  Precinct,  1876, 

Friend   (Ger.),  1883. 

Kelsey,  Rev.  Joel  S McCook,  1886. 

Keniston,  Rev.  Geo.  N...  Keystone  and 

Loomis,  i898-«99. 

Kenniston,  Rev.  O.  V Dustin,  1899-1900. 

Kent,  Rev.  Thomas Knox  Co.  ist,  1884,  Pilger  and 

Stanton,  1887-88. 

Kerr,  Rev.  Joseph Bertrand,  1892-93. 

Kershaw.  Rev.  C.  H Park  and  Mentorville  and 

West  Cedar  Valley,  1896. 


TABLES  343 

Kidder,  Rev.  Josiah Arlington,  1893. 

Kidder,  Rev.  T.  W Norfolk  an.l  Stanton,  187(^78, 

Oakdale,  1878. 

Killip,  Rev.  Robert Genoa,  1889-90. 

Kino-,  Rev.  T-  C I'.ethcl,  Ne>vcastle  and 

Martinsbnrg,  1883-86. 
King,  Rev.  Willet  D ]  lyannis,  1903,  Cherry  Hill  and 

Park  Vale  On-'.aha,  1905 — . 
Klopp,  Ivcv.  John  J Stanton  and 

Alaple  Creek,  1898 — . 
Knapp,  Rev.  George  W.  .  Grant,  1894-98,  Ogalalla,  i8c)8, 

Hay  Springs,  1902 — . 
Knowles,    Rev.    David Salt  Creek,  1869, 

Greenwood,  1879-83. 
Kokjer,  Rev.  Jordan  M.  .  .Springview,  1897,  Cowles,  190T, 

Petersburg,  1903-05, 

Brunswick,  1905 — . 
Kraemer,  Rev.  Julius  H.  .Center,  and  Wescott  and 

Comstock,  1905 — . 

Lamb,  Rev.  G.   S Milford,  1883-90. 

Lange,  Rev.  John  G Wahoc,  1892,  Leigh,  1895-99. 

Langley,  Rev.  Harry Pickrell,  1902. 

Lansborough,  Rev.  J.  F..Holdrege,  1904-05. 

Larkins,  Rev.  James  W.  .  .  Blair,  1901-03. 

Lavvson,  Rev.  Francis.  . .  .  Riverton,  1891. 

Leavitt,  Rev.  William Ashland,  1878-86. 

Leavitt,  Rev.  Fred  W.  . .  .West  F*oint,  1899-1903. 

Seward,  1903 — . 

LeBar,  Rev.  William  H.  .  .  Omaha  Park  Vale,  1895, 

Wilcox,  T899, 
Hiland  Center,  1905, 
Cortland,  1904-05. 

Leeper,  Rev.  Edward  R..York,  1889-92. 


344  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

Lewis,  Rev.  F.  F Holdrege,  1898-1901, 

Syracuse,  1901-04. 

Lewis,  Rev.  E.  M 1864. 

Lewis,  Rev.  Thomas  G.  .  .  Pleasant  Ridge,   1887. 
Libby,'  Rev.  Edward  H.  .  .  Cuniminsville,   1886-1902. 

Lich,   Rev.   John Friend  and  Grafton  (  C>qv.), 

1885-89, 

Lincohi  (Ger.),  1902 — . 
Lich,  Rev.  Peter Friend  (Ger.),  1892, 

Deshler,  1895, 

Superior,  1897-99. 
Lincohi,  Rev.  George  E..  Trenton,  1899. 
Lindsay,   Rev.  Robert  S..York,  1887-89. 

Linskea,  Rev.  J.  B Wilber,  1880. 

Little,  Rev.  Charles Lincoln  ist,  1868-69. 

Lipe,  Rev.  W.  A Omaha  Cherry  Hill,  189 1. 

Loney,  Rev.  Wesley  (  Ch. 

of  Disc) Butte  and  Spencer,  1893. 

Losey,  Rev.  John  B Sutton,  1898. 

Lowe,  Rev.  C.   Marshall.  .  Genoa  and  Monroe,  1902-04, 

Wattsville,  1902-02. 
Lowes,  Rev.  J.  E Cedar  Creek  and 

Boone  Co.  ist.,  [872. 
L}-man,   Rev.   Henry   Mar- 
tin   Stanton  and 

Maple  Creek,  1894. 

Macomber,   Rev.    Hiram.  .  Steele  City,  1887. 

Made,   Rev.   John State  Supt.  Home  Missions, 

1884-89. 
Manss,  Rev.  William  H.  .  .  Lincoln  ist,  1898-1903. 

Manwell,  Rev.  B.  T Plattsmouth,  1871. 

Marsh,  Rev.   A.   F New  England  Valley,  1882, 

Neli^h,  1882. 


TABLES  345 

Marsh,  Rev.  L.  J Grand  Island,  1904 — . 

Marshall,  Rev.  William.  ..  Alma  and  Naponee,  1881. 
Martin.  Rev.  Edwin Shiekley,  1892, 

Addison,  1893-96. 
Martin,  Rev.  George  R.  ..  Spencer,  1899,  Harbine,  1900, 

Arborville,  1902, 

Milford,  1903-04. 
Martinis,   Rev.   A Cowles  and 

Wheatland,  1884-85. 
Mason,  Rev.  James  W.  . .  .  Danbiiry,  1905 — . 

Mason,  Rev.  L.  T Camp  Creek,  1881. 

Maxwell,  Rev.   A Fairmont,  1872,  Aurora,  1873, 

Red  Cloud,  1874, 

Wheatland,  1878, 

Loup  City,  1880. 

]May,  Rev.  Jacob Culbertson,  1888-89. 

May,  Rev.  Thomas  F.  .  .  .  Campbell,  1904 — . 
MacAyeal,  Rev.  Howard  S.  Cambridge,  1889-95, 

Omaha  Plymouth,  1895. 
McDougall,  Rev.  Geo.  L.  .  Bloomfield,  1903. 
?iIcHenry,  Rev.  Feargus ..  Syracuse,  1889,  Cortland,  i89'3. 
McFIenry,  Rev.  Geo.  F...Burwell,  1888. 

Mcintosh,  Rev.  C.  H York,  1882-84. 

McKinncy,  Rev.  James  E.Havelock,  1897. 
McLeary,  Rev.  Owen  L.  .  Clearwater  and 

(jloversville,  1893. 
McLean,  Rev.  Thomas  D.  Blair,  1893-94. 
McRae,    Rev.    Isaac Wallace,  1898, 

Newcastle,  1900-02, 

Verdon,  1903,  Havelock,  1904 — 
Mead,  Rev.  M.  H Norfolk,  1878,  Stanton  and 

Silver  Creek.  1883-85, 

Verdon,  1885. 
Medlar,  Rev.  William  H.  .York,  1903 — . 
23 


346  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

Mecllin,  Rev.  J.  S.  (M.  E.)  Pickrell,   1903-04. 

Menzi,  Rev.  Ernest  U.  .  .  .  Curtis,  1900-01. 

Merrill,  Rev.   C.  W State  Supt.  of  Home  Missions, 

1880-84. 

Merrill,  Rev.  Elijah  W.  .  .  Pleasant  View,   1883. 

Merrill,  Rev.  O.  W State  Snpt.  of  Home  Missions, 

T 870-74. 

Myers,  Rev.  L.  L Paisley,  1903-04. 

Miles,  Rev.  M.  N Calla,  1870. 

Millard,  Rev.  Martin  J.  ..DeWitt,  1902,  Strang  and 

Benning',  1904 — . 

Miller,   Rev.  Albert  C...  Dodge,  1902-04. 

Milligan,  Rev.  J.  A Ainsworth,  1884-86, 

Long  Pine,  1886-87, 
Omaha,  Saratciga  and 
Cherry  Plill,  1887-88, 
Wymore,  1891-92. 

Mills,  Rev.  Herbert  L.  .  .  .  Omaha  Cherry  Hill,  1903, 

Hillside,  1904 — . 

Mitchell.  Rev.  G.  W Jmiiata,  1882  (Stu.  3  Mo.), 

P.ethel,  1884,  Newcastle,  1885. 
Dustin.  1886,  Avoca,  1887, 
Arborville.   1888-92, 
Franklin,  1892-02, 
Clarks,  1905 — ,  Silver  Creek. 

Moffatt.  Rev.  T.  Clemence.  Hayes  Center  and 

Palisade,  1894, 
Wymore,   1897- 1903. 

Mollenbeck,  Rev.  B Fairmont    (Ger.).    1873. 

Monroe.  Rev.   Geo.   A Milford,   1895, 

Columbus,   190a — . 

Morach,  Rev.  Jacob Olive  Branch,  1887, 

Hallam,  1893-97. 

Morley.  Rev.  John Avoca.   1884-87,  Victoria,  1887. 


TARLKS  347 

Morse,  Rev.  Henry  H.  .  .  .  <  huaha  Hillskle,   i.Sgo-yi. 

Morse'  Rev.  M.  W Crete.  iSijf^ujoi. 

Morse,  Rev.  Robert  C.  .  .  .  Fairfield,  1889-1890. 
Moslander,     Rev.      Frank- 
lin  \' Xelii^h,   1900-03. 

Monnts.  Rev.  S.  A Upland,  1892,  Canii)1)e!l.  iS^Av 

Murphy,  Rev.  Charles  J-- Wallace,  1894-98. 

Mygatt,   Mr.   Albert I'.assett,  1904—, 

Pine  Camp,  1905 — . 

Nelson,  Rev.  L  ^\■ Flastings,  1898-1902. 

Neuman,  Rev.  L I'Hend  (Ger.),  1889-91. 

Neunian,   Rev.    Isaac I'.eaver  Creek  (Ger.),  1888-89. 

Newell,  Rev.  A.  F Lincoln  Vine  St.,   1893-99. 

Nevill,     Rev.     Alfred     W. 

(Friend) Wallace,   1902-04,  Harbine, 

Plymouth  and 
Steele  City,  1904 — . 

Nichols.        Rev.        Joseph 

(■  i\[_  E.) Calhoun,  1894. 

Norcross,  Rev.  L.  P Osceola,  1879-82. 

Norval,  Rev.  W\   O \^ailton,  1888. 

Novce,  Rev.  Geo.  T Irvington,  1893-94, 

Brunswick,  1895,  Wilcox, 
Hildreth,   Trenton,    T901-04. 
Fairview,  1904 — . 

Noyce,  Rev.  Joseph  C Clemen,  1902,  Mnmi^er.  r(jOi~03, 

Brewster,  1904-05, 
Moulton,  1905 — . 

Oakev.    Rev.    Tames West  Point  and  Wisner,  1881, 

David  City,  1886-88. 
Osgood,  Rev.  Robert  S.  .  .  Harvard,  1898-99. 

Otis,  Rev.  A.  J Bradshaw,  1889. 

Otis,  Rev.  Jonathan  T Ulysses  and  Rising,  1886, 


348  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

Irvington,  1887-93. 

Osthoff,  Rev.  E.  C Lincoln   (Ger.),  1898-1900. 

Oxley,  Rev.  Charles  G.  .  .Corlland,  1904-04. 

Packard,  Rev.  N.  L Ainsworth,  1884, 

Gen.  Aliss.,  1904 — . 
Page,  Rev.  B.  G Dorchester,  1873, 

Friendville,    1875-78. 

Page,  Rev.  H.  P Harvard,  1877,  Exeter,  1878. 

Page,  Rev.  W.  D Cowles,  1885,  Guide  Rock,  1886, 

Curtis,  1888. 

Palmer,  Rev.  E.  S Omaha,  1867. 

Palmer,  Rev.  Oscar  A.  .  .  .  Ulysses,  1892,  Trenton,  1894-95. 
Parish,  Rev.  Geo.  R Leigh  and  Howells,  1887, 

Harvard,   1888-89. 
Parker,  Rev.  J.  J Norfolk,  1885-01, 

Kearney,  1901-02, 

Plainview,   1903 — . 
Paske,  Rev.  William  J Newcastle,  1886,  Pierce,  188S 

Omaha  Park  Place,  1891. 
Payne,  Rev.  W.  B Friend,  1897, 

Arborville,  1900-02, 

Exeter,  1902 — . 

Paxton,  Rev.  R.  F Ainsv\^orth,  1905 — . 

Pearson,  Rev.  B.  F Gloversville,   1888. 

Pearson,  Rev.   Samuel.  .  .  .  Bethel  and  Martinsburg,  1886, 

Oxford,  1887,  Dodge  and 

Howells,  1888-91, 

West  Point,  1891. 
Peas,  Rev.  Frank  W Albion,  1892-95, 

Ravenna,  1895,  Alma,  1899-1902. 
Peas,  Rev.  W.  P Rising  City,  Irvington,  1890, 

Ogalalla,  1891,  Freewater,  1893, 

Wilcox  and  Hildreth,  1894. 

Hay  Springs,   1894-98. 


TAIJLKS 


349 


J  V'ltt)!!,  Kcv.'Gco.  S Omaha  3d,  1883. 

IVnniman,    Alfred    11 Omaha  3d,  1887. 

I'crkins,  Rev.  Mrs.  E.  B.  .  Clarks,  1893,  Silver  Creek,  1895, 

Clay  Center,  1S96-99, 

Clarks,   1899-1904. 

Perkins,  Rev.  Geo.  B Blair,  1894. 

Terry,  Rev.  D.  B Aurora,  1872,  Called  to 

Doane  Col.,  1872^ 
Perry,  Rev.  Frank  S Peigh,  1892-93.  I'rule  and 

Ogalalla,   1898. 

Peterson,  Rev.  C.  E Lincoln    (Swedish),    1898-1902. 

Pettit,  Rev.  Samuel  A.  . .  .  Naponee,   1890,  Moline,   1891, 

Clearwater,   1892, 

Gloversville,  1892-93. 

Phipps,  Rev.  \Vm.  C Wescott,  i8c)7. 

Pierce,  Rev.  Robert Phelps  (Welsh),  1884. 

Urbana,  1884—. 
Pile,   Rev.    Francis Spencer,   1901, 

Campbell,    1903-04. 

Plass,  Rev.  Norman Lincoln  Plymouth,  1893. 

Piatt,  Rev.  H.  D Cowles,  1888-93,  Alma,  1905— 

Piatt,  Rev.   M.   F Weeping  Water,  1865, 

Hastings,  1874-76, 

Waverly,  1876,  Juniata,  1879, 

Rock  Creek,  1880, 

Syracuse,  1882, 

Greenwood,  1883, 

Beatrice,  1884. 

l^oeton.  Rev.  Josiah Taylor,  1896-99. 

Poison,  Rev.  August Lincoln  Swedish,  1905 — . 

Porter,  Rev.  George Fremont,  1875-78. 

Pogue,  Rev.  R.  E.  (M.  E.)  Pickrell,  1904-05. 

Pound,  Rev.  E.  H Crawford,  1889-91. 

Powell,  Rev.  F.  S Hastings,  1892. 


350  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

Powell,  Rev.  Gregory  J. .  .  .  Chadron,  1886, 

Omaha   Hillside,    1892-95. 

I'ower,    Rev.    John Springview,  Blair,  1889-93, 

Kearney,  1894. 

Pratt,  Rev.  A.  B Camp  Creek,  1873. 

Preston,  Rev.  B.  C Eagle,  1889-90. 

Preston,  Rev.  C.  W \'erdon,  1888, 

Curtis,  1892-1900, 

Thedford,  1900, 

Lincoln  Butler  Ave.,  1905 — . 

Preston,  Rev.  Mrs.  C.  W.  .  Eustis,  1897-99, 

Dunning,   1900-03, 

Lincoln  Butler  Ave.,  1905 — . 

Preston,  Rev.   Elmer  E.  .  .  Plemingford,  1896, 

Hyannis,  1896-97. 

Preston,  Rev.  H.   L AlcCook,   1894-96, 

Newman  Grove,  1905. 

Preston,  Rev.  Joseph  P.  .  .  Irvington,  1881, 

Creighton,  1887-90. 

Price,    Rev.    John Elmore,  1858. 

Pugh,  Rev.  Thomas Jalappa,  1870-73, 

Fairfield,   1873-78, 
Tndianola,  1878-79. 

Ouarder,  Rev.  Paul  O.  B.Hastings    (Ger.),    1892-93. 

Radford,  Rev.  Walter.  .  .  .  Springfield,  1891-94. 
Ralston,  Rev.  Edward  S..  Lincoln   Plymouth.    1887-91. 

Ramser,  Rev.  Jacob Llighland   (Ger.),  1888. 

Ratzell,  J.  Perry Crawford,   1903, 

Cambridge,   1904 — . 
Rawson,  Rev.  Greggs  H.  .  Irvington,  1904 — . 

Ray,  Rev.  Geo.  A Seward,  1891. 

Reichardt,  Rev.  Frederick.  Friend    (Ger.),    1891-92, 
Reeves,  Rev.  G.  I Hildreth  and  Wilcox,  1905— 


TABLES  35 ' 

Rico.  Rev.  Guv  H Xcwcastlc,  1898-iyoo, 

ThcdfoiHl,  1900, 
Arlington,  1902-03, 
Red  Cloud,   1904—,  and 
Indian  Creek. 

Rice    Rev.  O.  Y Columbus,  1884-89, 

Harvard,  1889. 
Richards,  Rev.  George  W.  Stratton,  1886-89. 
Richards,   Rev.  lunanuel.  .  Sutton,  1885. 
Richardson,    Rev.    Charles 

H  (iencva,  1895. 

Kicker.  Rev.   A.  E Ogalalla,  1888,  Alma,  1891-95, 

Chadron,  1895,  Aurora,  1901— . 
Richert,  Rev.  Cornelius.  ..  Germantown,  1891. 
Riggs,  Rev.  Alfred  L.  .  .  .  Santee  Agency  for  many  years—. 
Rindell,  Rev.  Gilbert  T.  .  .  Arlington,   1904—. 

Robberts,  Rev.  J.  F Ulysses  and  NevVlands,   1882-83. 

Roberts.    Rev.    lohu Silver  Creek,  1886, 

Newcastle,  1888, 
Petersburg  and  Park,  1901, 
Newcastle  and 
Daily  Branch,  1905—- 

Rockwell,  Rev.  J.  H Palmyra,  1873-       . 

Rogers,  Rev.  Alonzo Blair,  1887. 

Rogers,  Rev.  A.  J Columbus,  1894, 

'  '  Harvard,  1899-1901. 

Rogers,  Rev.  C.  H Lincoln  Plymouth,  1904—. 

Rogers,    Clarence   J Creighton,  1900. 

Roiiring,  Rev.   Otto Alliance  (Ger.),  1900—. 

Rominger,  Rev.  H.  V ....  Crawford,  1896-^)9. 

Rose,  Rev.  A.  H Omaha  Hillside,  1891-^2. 

Rose,'  Rev.  L.  P Hastings,  1895. 

Rose,  Rev.  W.  W Omaha,  1865-67. 

Roser,  Rev.  Theodore Inland,  1883. 


352  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

Rundiis,  Rev.  John Wilber,  Bethlehem,   1892. 

Ruring,  Rev.  Victor  H.  .  .  David  City.  1905 — . 

Sage,  Riv.  Charles  J Rising  City  1898-99, 

Ravenna,  1 899-1902. 
Sallenbach,  Rev.  H.  H.  . .  .  Lincoln  (Ger.),  1877. 
Sargent,  Rev.  Clarence  S.  Omaha  St.  Mary's  Ave.  ,1900-02. 
Sargent,  Rev.  Robert  M..Linwood,  1901-02. 

Sarkeys,  Rev.  Elias  S A.ddison  and  Bloomfield,  1896-98. 

Schaerer,   Rev.   John Crete  (Ger.),  1884. 

Schaufield,  Rev.  Paul  M,  .  Nelson  and  Deshler,  1894. 
Sclieuerle,  Rev.  G Emanuel  (Ger.),  1884-85, 

Olive  Branch,  1885. 
Schlechter,  Rev.  Jacob.  .  .  .  Sutton  (Ger.),  1892. 
Schroeder,  Rev.  Geo.  W.  .  Newcastle,  1903-04. 
Schwab,  Rev.  S.  Herman .  Lincoln  Zion  (Ger.),  1901 — . 
Schwimley,    Rev.    William 

A David  City,  1897-1900. 

Scott,  Rev.  George West  Point,  1878-81, 

Sutton,  1 88 1, 

Cortland,  1899-1903, 

Wisner,  1903 — , 

Scott,  Rev.  Willard Omaha  St.  Mary's  Ave.,  1883. 

Seccombe,   Rev.   Charles.  .  Monroe  and  Grand  Island,  1875. 

Seward,  Rev.  A.  L Glencoe,  1878,  Aurora,  1880. 

Sharpe,  Rev.  Perry  A...,  Omaha  Cherry  Hill,  1902-03, 

Friend,  1903 — . 

Sharrett,  Rev.  James Friend,  1888-89. 

wSherman,  Rev.  E.  L Columbus,  1878-81, 

P^airfield,  1891-96. 
Sherman,  Rev.  Newton.  .  .  Bloomfield,  1904 — . 

Sherril,  Rev.  A.  F Omaha  ist,  1869-188S. 

Shull,   Rev.   Gilbert  L.  . .  .  Crawford,  1901 — . 
Show,  Rev.  A.  B Waco,  1885. 


TABLES  353 

Sluiinan,  Rev.  Henry  A.  .  Ulysses,  i8(j8,  Rising- City,  lyoo, 

Burwell,  1902,  Arcadia,  1903 — . 

Shunian,  Rev.  S,  H ^Monroe,  1892. 

Sikes,  Rev.  Eric  B Springview,  1905 — . 

Single,  Rev.  John Butte  Zion  (Gcr.),  1898-1902. 

Skinner,  Rev.  J.  H Mascott,  1897. 

Skinner,  Rev.  T.  N Milford,   1869-70, 

Dorchester,  1872-73, 
Smitt,    Rev.   John Inland  (Ger.),  and 

Liberty  Creek,  1904 — . 

Smith,  Rev.  David  O Campbell,  1886-89. 

Smith,  Rev.  E.  F Juniata,  1877. 

Smith,  Rev.  Edwin   S ....  Beatrice,    1888-92 

Smith,  Rev.  Howard  N...  Omaha  Saratoga,  1889 -c)i. 

Smith,  Rev.  J.  A Avoca,  1888. 

Smith,  Rev.  J.   Franklin.  ,  Sargent,  1893, 

Arcadia,  1895-98, 

Leigh,  1899-05. 

Smith,  Rev.  J.   P Fontanelle,  1868-70. 

Smith,  Rev.  L.  Adams.  . .  .  Stratton,  1889. 

Smock,  Rev.  W.  D Schuyler,  1883. 

Snow,  Rev.  Beecher  O.  ..Bladen,  1891, 

Upland,  1892-93, 

Irvington,  1894-96, 

Fairfield,  1896. 

Snyder,  Rev.  Henry  C Bertrand,  1893. 

South  worth,  Rev.  Ed  v/ard.  Harvard,  1883, 

Clay  Center,  1886-88. 
Spangler,  Rev.  George  B.Camp  Creek,  1898-1902. 
Spellman,  Rev.  Henry  O.Red  Cloud,  1894. 
Sprague,  Rev.   Elmer  E.  .  Farnam,  1893, 

Cortland,  1898-99. 

Spencer.  Rev.   J.   G Irvington.   1875,  Norfolk,    1882. 

Sperry,  Rev.  W.  S Blair,'  1868. 


354  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

Sparrow,  Rev.  J.  P Knox  Co.   ist,   1882-84, 

Lakeside,   1885-87. 

Squire,  Rev.  A.  L Eurwell,   1894-95, 

Holdrege,  1897, 
Shickley,  1898-99. 

Stahl,  Rev.  Carl  D Crete  (Ger.),  1902-04 

Stahner,  Rev.  H.   C Crete  (Ger.),  1905—. 

Starbuck,  Rev.  C.  C Columbus  and  Monroe,  1877, 

St.  Clair,  Rev.  Peter Osceola,  1883-86, 

Rushville,  1887. 
Syracuse,  1888-89. 

Stephenson,      Rev.      Wm. 

D.    J Lakeside,  1887, 

^Clearwater,   1889-90. 
McCook,   1 89 1. 

Stewart,  Rev.  J.  D Hastings,   1879-83, 

Supt.  of  State  S.  S.  work 
from  1883-1905 — . 

Stocking,  Rev.  James  B..Wahoo,  1898-1902, 

Bur  well,  1903 — . 

Stoelting,  Rev.  F.  A Timber  Creek,  1900-01. 

Storm,  Rev.  J.  E Rising  and  Ulysses,  1883, 

Arborville,  1885,  Clarks,  1890, 
DeWitt,  189 1,  Springfield,  1894, 
Long  Pine,   1897, 
Clay  Center,   1899, 
Hyannis,   1900,  Harbine  and 
Plymouth,  1902, 
DeWitt,  1904-05. 

Stoughton,  Rev.  Lewis  H.Albion,   1895-1900. 

Strong,  Rev.  J.  M Inavale,    1879. 

Franklin,   1880-82. 

Strong,   Rev.    Sidney Friend,  1885-87. 

Stubbins,  Rev.  W.   H.  . .  .  Burwell,  1883. 


TABLES  355 

Stuocklin,  K'cv.  (1.  I" Inland  (Gcr.),  1884. 

Snffa,  Rev.  Andrew l.inr.iln  Saleni  (  C.cr. ),  ujo\ — . 

Suoss,  Rev.  William I'.uda  Mat,   1875, 

Culbertson,  1885, 
McCook  (Ger.X  1889, 
Olive  Ih-ancli,  1896 — . 

Swanson,  Rev.  John  E...  Lincoln    Swedish.    1902-04, 

Waverly  Swedish,   1904 — . 

Switzer,  Rev.   Miss  A.  E.  Holdrege,  1902-04. 

Swinj:;^,  Rev.  A.  F Fremont,  1878-87. 

Taggart,  Rev.  Charles  E.  .  Red  Cloud,  1889-91. 
Tangeman,  Rev.  Gottlob  D.  Grant,  1893,  DeWitt,  1894, 

I'airniont,  1896-99. 
Tasker,  Rev.  Joseph  O.  .  .  Linwood,   1887-92. 

Taylor,   Rev.   C.   B Ravenna,  1888-89. 

Taylor,   Rev.   E.   C In  State,  1866,  Ord,   1867, 

Letter  to  Iowa,  1869. 
Taxlor,  Rev.  George  E.  .  .  Harvard,  1880-83, 

Clay  Center,  1883-86, 

Indianola,  1886-88, 

Pierce,  1900 — . 

Taylor.   Rev.  Glen  A Strang  and  Geneva,  1886-87. 

Taylor,  Rev.  J.  G Nebraska  City,  1872-76. 

Terrell,  Rev.  C.  W Genoa,  1890-92, 

Clarks,  1892-93. 

Thain,  Rev.  A.  R Omaha  Plymouth,  1889. 

Thiel,  Rev.  P.  J Hastings   (Ger.),  1904 — . 

Thing,  Rev.  Milo  J.  P Butler  ist  and 

Linwood.   1884-87, 

Springfield,  1889, 

Arcadia,   1801-95. 
Thomas,  Rev.  Charles  'M .  Brrmswick,   1903 

Loomis  aiul  Eustis,  1905 — . 


356  CONGREGATIONAL  NEBRASKA 

Thompson,  Rev.  Carl  D.  .  Clearwater,   1891-92, 

Park  (MentorvilleJ,  1893. 

Thompson,  Rev.  H.  S Syracuse,  1879. 

Thompson,  Rev.  J.   C Nebraska  City,  1879. 

Thome,  Rev.  James  A.  .  .  .  Ogalalla,   1886,  Grant,   1887, 

Clarks,  1888-90. 

Ticknor,  Rev.  Owen  E.  .  .  Eustis,  1894,  Hyannis,  1895-96, 

Red  Cloud,  1896, 
Free  water  and  Wilcox,  1897, 
Park,  1899. 

Tillbery,  Rev.  John  M.  . .  .  Linwood  Swedish,  1896-97. 

Tingley,  Rev.  M Blair,  1870-77. 

Todd,  Rev.  O.  C Red  Cloud  and  Riverton,  1882, 

Monroe  and  Genoa,  1884. 

Torbet,  Rev.  Albert Omaha  Park  Place,  1890-91. 

Townsend,  Rev.  Arthur  C.  .Crawford,  1899-01, 

Ravenna,  1901,  Albion,  1903 — . 

Traudt,  Rev.  Adam Lincoln  (Ger.),  1888-89. 

Traverse,  Rev.  R.  M Ravenna,  1887-88, 

Leigh,  1888-92,  Milford,  1892, 
Alma,  1895,  Doniphan,  1899, 
DeWitt,  1899-1902, 
Petersburg,  1902, 
Clay  Center,  1902, 
Wymore,  1903-04. 

Treiber,  Rev.  Michael Sutton   (Ger.),  1888, 

Stockham  and  Sutton,  1890. 

Triplet,  Rev.  H.  M Ainsworth,  1898-1902, 

Springfield,  1902 — . 

Tucker,  Rev.  John  F Eagle,  1888-89.. 

Tueben,  Rev.  A.  C Park,  1891. 

Turner,  Rev.  L.  A Plymouth  and  Kilpatrick,  1895, 

Indianola,  1897-1900. 


TABLES  357 

Turner,  Rev.  W.  J Mbion,   1887,  Neligh,   1891-93, 

-McCook,   1 898-1902, 
Norfolk,  1902-—. 

Tnttle,  Rev.  John  E Lincoln  ist,  1903—. 

Uber,  Rev.  William Received  1867. 

Ung-er,  Rev.  Samuel  L.  .  .  Hiklreth,  1895. 

\^anAlstine,  Rev.  Sylvester.  Genoa,   1892-94, 

Long-  Pine. 

VanLuven,    Rev.    Sanford 
A Sargent  and  Comstock,   1904 — . 

Vietz,  Rev.  C.  F Crete  (Ger.),  1875-76. 

Vogt,  Rev.  William  F Culbertson   (Ger.),   1897, 

McCook,   1897-99, 
Beaver  Creek,  1901, 
Friend   (Ger.),   1903-05. 

Wadswortli,  Rev.  George.  Spencer,  1.898. 
^^^ain^vright,  Rev.  Geo.  W.  Blair,  1880-82, 

Representative  of  A.  B.  S. 
from  1882  nearly  20  years. 
Walker,  Rev.  Cornelius  C.  Burwell,  1891-92. 
Waller,  Rev.  Theodore.  ..  Fontanelle,  1857. 
Walters,  Rev.  William Hastings,  1886-92, 

Long  Pine,  1892. 
Wannamaker,  Rev.  H.   S.  Geneva,   1887-90, 

Lincoln  Vine  St.,   1890-93. 
Warfield,  Rev.  Frank  A.  .  Omaha  ist,  1896-98. 

Wark,  Rev.  W.  O Harvard,  1892-93. 

Warwick,  Rev.   Andrew.  .  Glencoe,  1872. 
Washington,    Rev.    Alonzo 

G Maple  Creek,  1892, 

Leigh,  1893. 
Watson,  Rev.  Jonathan.  ..  Ogalalla,  1902-03. 


358  CONGREGATIONAL  NP:BRASKA 

Webber,  Rev.  Bertholcl  L.Clay  Center,  1894-95. 
Webber,  Rev.  E.  E DeWitt,  1880-S2, 

Wahoo,  1882-84. 
Weeden,   Rev.    William.  ..  Beatrice,  1884-86. 

West,  Rev.  Parley  B Butte,  1902-04. 

Wiedenhoeft,      Rev.      Wil- 
liam   Hemingf ord  and 

Xonpareil,   1890. 
Wiedmann,  Rev.  P Crete   (Ger.),   1881-84, 

Emanuel,  1885, 

Beaver  Creek,  1887-88. 

Weidman,  Rev.  Mile Long  Pine,  1905 — . 

Wharton,    Rev.    Lawrence 

B.  (Bap. ) (Jmaha  Plymouth,  1889. 

Williams,  Rev.  R.  R Fairfield,   1878, 

Clay  Center,  1887-90. 
Williams,   Rev.   Samuel.  ..  Riverton,  1894-1905. 
Williams,  Rev.  Thistle  A.Omaha  Cherry  Hill,  1900-02. 
Williams,  Rev.  William  T.  Dustin,    1890,   Aten,    1895, 

Blyville,   1896, 

Crofton  to  1903. 
Wild,  Rev.  Laura  A Lincoln  Butler  Ave.,  190T-05, 

Doane  Professorship. 

Crete,  Neb.,  1905 — . 
Willis,  Rev.  J-  Vincent.  .  .  New  Hope,  1892, 

Wymore,  1892-93. 
Wilson,  Rev.  Samuel  F.  .  .  New  Hope,  1893, 

Wymore,   181^3. 

Wilson,  Rev.  Henry Hastings,  1883-85. 

Winslow,  Rev.  Jacob Hastings,   1876-78, 

DeWitt,  1878-80, 

Friend,   1880,   Bradshaw,   1883. 
Wismer,  Rev.  Ernest  L.  .  .  Taylor,   1 899-1901, 

Newman  Grove,  1903-04. 


TAI'.LES  359 

Wood.  Rev.  Saimicl I  [avclock,  1893-97, 

W'ahoo,  1898. 

Woolnian.  Kc\ .  W \urora,  187(5-78, 

liradshaw,  1880,  MayHower, 
Prairie  Home,  West 
Hai^iillon.  1882,  Xa])onee,  1885. 
Molinc  and  ]""arnain.  i88r)-(S7, 
i'alisade,    1889-91. 

Woolworth,    Rev.    William 

S Wvmore,   1890. 

\\'oth.  Rev.  Friedrick Germantown,  1891-99. 

V\'right,  Rev.  Garvin  H. ..  Fairfield,  1903 — . 

Wrigley,  Rev.  Franeis Milford,   1904-05. 

Wuerrschmidt,  Rev.  C.  W. Hastings   (Ger.).  1895-1904. 

Wycoff.  Rev.  Edwin  D.  ..  Omaha  Pilgrim,  1900. 

Yost.    Rev.    Robert Omaha  St.  ^Mary's  Ave.,  1902-05 

Youngs,  Rev.  J.   W Vrborville.  1882. 

Zercher,  Rev.  Flenry  J- •••Geneva,  i890-<)3. 

Tables  \'11I  and  IX  ])resent  the  history  of  eaeh  church 
and  each  minister  in  their  ecclesiastical  relations.  W^e  can 
only  hope  that  they  are  approximately  correct.  Church 
scribes  were  not  always  particular  in  reporting  the  changes 
of  pastorates  with  the  i^roper  dates.  We  have  found  at 
times  the  printed  minutes  at  fault.  In  such  a  number  of 
names  and  dates  we  can  not  hope  that  we  have  made  no 
mistakes,  but  these  tables  have,  been  prepared  with  much 
labor  and  painstaking,  and  we  trust  they  will  prove  to  be 
of  permanent  and  real  value  to  the  churches.  Where  appar- 
ent discrepancies  occur  Table  VI 1 1  may  be  considered  as 
the  standard  authoritv. 


